Hyattsville Man Pleads Guilty to Charges Related to Two Carjacking Abductions

U.S. Attorney’s Office
Eastern District of Virginia
7 May 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ALEXANDRIA, Va. –Darian Robinson, 42, of Hyattsville, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to charges of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to the statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, on Nov. 7, 2014, Robinson approached a woman outside of a Walgreens in Fairfax County, Virginia. He then brandished a firearm, ordered her into her car, and forced her to drive to various ATMs to withdraw cash from her bank account. He then forced the victim to drive to a drive-thru liquor store in Maryland to purchase alcohol for him before having her drop him off at the New Carrollton Metro station. Then, on Nov. 12, 2014, Robinson followed a second woman as she exited the Vienna Metro Station. After she was inside her car, Robinson tapped on the window with a gun. He then forced her to drive to Washington, D.C. and then Maryland. Once there, Robinson forced her to drive to various ATMs in attempts to withdraw money which were unsuccessful. Thereafter, Robinson forced this victim to drive to drive-thru liquor stores before dropping him off at the New Carrollton Metro station. During both incidents, Robinson threatened to shoot his victims.

Robinson was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 11, 2015. Robinson faces a maximum penalty of life in prison when he is sentenced on Aug. 21, 2015. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Ronald A. Pavlik, Jr., Chief of Metro Transit Police, Colonel Edwin C. Roessler, Jr., Fairfax County Chief of Police, and Andrew G. McCabe, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady.

This case was investigated by Metro Transit Police Department, Fairfax County Police Department, and the FBI’s Washington Field Office with assistance from the United States Secret Service and the Baltimore County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia Giles and Tyler McGaughey are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:15-cr-78.