'Violent Crime Ring': 15 From DMV Charged In East Coast Jewelry Thefts

NORTHERN VIRGINIA — Fifteen people from the DC region were charged Wednesday in connection with a crime ring that targeted jewelry stores owned by Asian Americans in Virginia and other states on the East Coast, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Members of the crime ring also committed multiple armed carjackings, money laundering and firearms offenses, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia said in a superseding indictment unsealed Wednesday. Among the 16 people charged in total, 12 are from Washington, D.C., two are from Maryland, one is from Virginia and one is from California.

The robberies took place at jewelry stores in Springfield and Falls Church, as well as in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida, between Jan. 7, 2022 and Jan. 27, 2023.

“The defendants targeted small businesses along the East Coast, stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of jewelry from hardworking families,” David Sundberg, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, said in a statement Wednesday.

The charges against the 16 people included conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce robbery, also known as the Hobbs Act; using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence; conspiracy to commit carjacking; and conspiracy to engage in monetary transaction in property derived from specified unlawful activity.

For the past 20 months, Sundberg said the FBI has worked with law enforcement agencies, including the Fairfax County Police Department and the Falls Church Police Department, in multiple states to connect the defendants to the robberies.

Federal officials said that one of the crime ring members, William Hunter, also known as “Ill Will,” 28, of Washington, D.C., conspired to commit carjackings between Sept. 11, 2022 and Oct. 22, 2022, with other suspects.

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Hunter and three other suspects from D.C. also were charged with conspiring to launder the proceeds of the stolen property.

Among the jewelry stores targeted were Yasini Jewelers in Falls Church on Jan. 7, 2022, Sonia Jewelers & Boutique in Springfield on Sept. 20, 2022, Sara Emporium Jewelry & Boutique in Springfield on Nov. 27, 2022, and Princess Diamonds in Falls Church on Jan. 27, 2023.

“We allege these suspects took part in take-over style armed robberies meant to terrify and overwhelm store owners and employees,” said FBI-Newark Special Agent in Charge James Dennehy said. “Many of the victim businesses are family owned and operated and lost large sums of inventory.”

The maximum sentence for conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce robbery is 20 years. The crime of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence carries a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years, with a maximum possible sentence of life. The maximum sentence for conspiracy to commit carjacking is five years in prison, while the statutory maximum sentence for money laundering is 20 years, according to the Justice Department.

For about a year starting in January 2022, the defendants conspired in D.C. to commit robberies targeting jewelry stores owned by Asian Americans in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Florida, according to the indictment.

Disguised in dark clothing, masks, and gloves, armed with a gun, the defendants used various vehicles, including stolen ones, to commit and flee from the robberies, officials said.

According to the Justice Department, the 16 people charged were:

• Andrew Smith, aka as “Drewso” or “Drew," 29, of Maryland. He is charged with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery and firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence
• Antonio Tate, aka “Motion” or “T-Motion,” 20, Washington, D.C. He is charged with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery.
• Avery Fuller, aka “Ace”, “Fully,” or “Fully Ace,” 28, of Washington, D.C. He is charged with Hobbs Act Robbery; conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence
• Davon Johnson, aka “Yb,” 30, of Washington, D.C. He is charged with Hobbs Act robbery; conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
• Decarlos Hill, aka “Los,” 29, of Maryland. He is charged with Hobbs Act robbery; conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
• Delonte Martin, aka “DD,” 25, of Washington, D.C. He is charged with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery.
• Franklin Hunter, aka “Gino,” 29, of Washington, D.C. He is charged with Hobbs Act robbery; conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
• Hesham Gomaa, 45, of Virginia. He is charged with Hobbs Act robbery; conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
• Jameise Christian, aka “Safe Play”, “Safety”, or “Safe,” 32, of Washington, D.C. He is charged with Hobbs Act robbery; conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence; and conspiracy to commit carjacking.
• Jaylaun Brown, aka “Lil Launy,” 21, of Washington, D.C. He is charged with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery.
• Keith McDuffie, 26, of California. He is charged with Hobbs Act robbery; conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
• Robert Sheffield, aka “Real Lifaa,” 32, of Washington, D.C. He is charged with Hobbs Act robbery; conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
• Timothy Conrad, aka “Twin," 32, of Washington, D.C. He is charged with Hobbs Act robbery; conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
• Trevor Wright, aka “Taliban Glizzy,” 32, of Washington, D.C. He is charged with Hobbs Act robbery; conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
• William Hunter, aka “Ill Will,” 28, of Washington, D.C. He is charged with Hobbs Act robbery; conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence; and conspiracy to commit carjacking.
• Lamont Marable, 27, of Washington, D.C. He is charged with Hobbs Act robbery; conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

The Justice Department said the case against the 16 men is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sitara Witanachchi and Andy Wang of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

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