Maryland Man Sentenced To 30 Years In Prison For Centreville Murder

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Tasheik Ashanti Champean, 46, of Suitland, Md., was sentenced today to 30 years in prison, followed by a three year term of supervised release, for his role in a 2010 robbery which resulted in the death of Jose Cardona. 

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Lt. Colonel Edwin C. Roessler, Jr., Acting Fairfax County Chief of Police made the announcement after Sentencing by United States District Judge Anthony J. Trenga.

Champean pleaded guilty on December 7, 2012, to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and use of a firearm during a crime of violence causing death.

According to court records, Champean conspired with Reynard Lazaro Prather and another man to rob the owner of a check-cashing facility at the store owner’s residence in Centreville, where the conspirators believed the target kept the store’s proceeds.

On May 17, 2010, Champean and Prather drove from Maryland to a shopping center in Virginia, where a third co-conspirator picked them up and dropped them off at the target’s residence.  Champean and Prather – both armed with semi-automatic pistols – entered the target’s garage to await the target’s arrival. When the owner’s son and an employee, Jose Cardona, attempted to access the garage, they were confronted by Champean and Prather.  The four men immediately engaged in a struggle over the intruders’ two firearms.  During the struggle, Cardona was shot and killed.

Prather was previously prosecuted in the Eastern District of Virginia for his role in the offense.  On June 1, 2012, Prather was also sentenced to 30 years in prison. 

This case was investigated by the Fairfax County Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Rich and Zachary Terwilliger are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on https://pcl.uscourts.gov.