Attempted Carjacking At Dulles International Airport Leads To Sentence

DULLES, VA — A man has been sentenced to prison for the attempted carjacking of a rideshare driver at Dulles International Airport, according to the Loudoun County Commonwealth's Attorney's office.

Lindsey Robinson, 36, was sentenced in Loudoun County Circuit Court to six years in prison on one count of attempted carjacking. He will pay $2,482 in restitution to the victim and a $1,000 fine. A judge opted to give a sentence above guidelines — 10 years with four years suspended. The four-year suspension is conditional on four years of probation.

The carjacking attempt happened on Jan. 14, 2023. According to the Commonwealth's Attorney, the rideshare driver had picked up Robinson in the arrivals area of Dulles International Airport. As the driver was leaving the arrivals area, Robinson demanded the driver's vehicle and phone. Prosecutors say Robinson repeatedly punched the driver from behind.

When the driver pulled over, Robinson continued to punch the victim after both left the vehicle. The victim fled by escaping across the road through traffic and took the vehicle's key fob. Robinson entered the vehicle but couldn't start the car without the key. Prosecutors say Robinson kicked the car several times and fled on foot.

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police identified Robinson as the suspect during the investigation. Robinson was located at the prison in Pennington Gap, Virginia, where he was being held on unrelated charges.

"I am grateful for the meticulous investigation carried out by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Department that led to the successful arrest of this violent individual," said Commonwealth’s Attorney Bob Anderson.

In court, Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Eden Holmes that the victim "was just trying to make a living the night this occurred." Holmes said Robinson took the victim's "sense of safety, his sense of confidence, he took his ability to earn a living."

Prosecutors had sought the maximum sentence for the attempted carjacking. Normally, sentencing guidelines for the charge range from probation with no incarceration to approximately two and half years of incarceration.