Washington, D.C. – A 52-year old District of Columbia man, Robert D. Black, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison following his conviction by a Superior Court jury in the armed robbery and shooting of an area liquor store manager in December 2007, U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Taylor announced today.

The Honorable Robert I. Richter of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia sentenced Black earlier today. Black was found guilty on June 30, 2008, by a Superior Court jury of Armed Robbery, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (gun), two counts of Possession of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Carrying a Pistol without a License, Possession of an Unregistered Firearm, and Unlawful Possession of Ammunition.

The government’s evidence at trial showed that on December 22, 2007, around 12:35 p.m., the defendant entered the Tunnel Wines & Spirits liquor store located at 311 H Street, NW, Washington, D.C. The store manager was alone inside the store. Once inside the store, the defendant pulled out a revolver, pointed it at the manager, and tried to force him to the back of the store. The manager refused to go to the back and struggled with the defendant. The defendant then ordered the manager to the front of the store where the cash register was located. At gunpoint, the defendant ordered the manager to hand over all the money in the cash register. Once the defendant had the money, he again tried to force the manager to the back of the store. The manager, fearing for his life, pushed the defendant and ran out the front door. As he ran, the defendant fired his gun at the manager, hitting him in the leg.

Next door, two witnesses heard the gunshot. One of these witnesses saw the defendant running away, and recorded the license plate of the van used by the defendant to drive away from the scene. A lookout for this van was broadcast city-wide to law enforcement members. Approximately one hour and a half later, officers with the Metropolitan Police Department spotted the van in the 2600 block of Naylor Road, SE, Washington, D.C. The defendant was stopped on the scene. Officers recovered a loaded revolver and two spent cartridge casings from his pocket.

In announcing today’s sentence, U.S. Attorney Taylor commended the efforts of the Metropolitan Police Department officers who were involved in the investigation and prosecution of this case. Specifically, the U.S. Attorney commended the outstanding work of the following MPD officers: Detectives Robert Saunders and Don Monroe, and Sergeant Julius Hunter; Crime Scene Search officers Gerald Wills, Ronald Royster, John Holder, and Jay Gregory; First District Officers Andrew Hudson and Michael Hoban; Seventh District Officers Todd Williams, Tom Barksdale, Tonia Jones, Erica Dortch-Jones, Myisha McConaughey, and Sergeant Joseph Thomas. U.S. Attorney Taylor also cited the efforts of several members of his staff, including Litigation Support Services Technician Joseph Calvarese; Legal Assistant Tameka Garcia; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Kerkhoff, who investigated and prosecuted the case.