WASHINGTON - On Friday, December 12, 2008, the Honorable Frederick H. Weisberg sentenced Louis M. Medley III, a man with strong ties to Southeast Washington, D.C., to 70 years in prison for the August 2005 murder of Michael Carter, known as "Black," and related crimes, U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Taylor announced. The sentence will run consecutive to an eight-year sentence for obstruction of justice that was imposed earlier this year.

Medley, 28, was found guilty of 16 felonies following a six-week trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia that concluded on July 18, 2008. Specifically, Medley was convicted of two counts of carrying a pistol without a license after a felony conviction (Tec-9 and Hi-Point .45 caliber pistols), second degree burglary while armed, five counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, armed robbery, first degree premeditated murder while armed with aggravating circumstances, two counts of felony murder while armed (one with and one without aggravating circumstances), arson, destruction of property, obstruction of justice, and conspiracy to obstruct justice and tamper with physical evidence.

The evidence at trial showed that Medley killed Michael Carter inside Carter's apartment in the 4600 block of Livingston Road, SE (PSA 706), in the early morning hours of August 25, 2005. Medley and an unindicted coconspirator, went to and entered Carter's apartment in order to rob and kill him and to set his body and his apartment on fire. To that end, Medley entered the apartment armed with an Intratec 9mm semi-automatic pistol and with a knife. After entering the apartment, Medley pulled out the Tec-9 and tried to shoot Carter. A struggle ensued, and Medley ultimately killed Carter by shooting him in the back of the head as Carter was trying to flee. Medley then dragged Carter's body back into the apartment and, after stealing some items belonging to Carter, doused Carter's body and apartment with gasoline and set it on fire. After fleeing the scene, Medley engaged in an elaborate and prolonged cover-up to conceal his culpability for Carter's murder and the related crimes.

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Taylor commended Detectives William Xanten, Milton Norris, Bryan Waid, Joshua Branson, and Anthony Greene, Sergeant Daniel Wagner, Officers John Holzwart, Keith Slaughter, Arleen Marsham-West, Cynthia Moton, Janice Brown, Tina Ramadan, Michael Penkert, Albert Sabir, Herbert Leboo, and Michael Harrison of the Metropolitan Police Department; Detectives Billy Sepeck and Paul Edwards of the U.S. Park Police; Special Agent Frank Oliver of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and Officer Todd Dolihite of the Prince George's County Police. He also commended Jonathan Pope of the Metropolitan Police Department's Firearms Examination Section, Diane Mazck of the Metropolitan Police Department's Fingerprint Examination Section, Jerrilyn Conway of the FBI's DNA Unit, Hal Deadman of the FBI's Trace Evidence Unit, and Ron Kelly of the FBI's Explosives Unit. Finally, U.S. Attorney Taylor commended the work of Joe Calvarese of the Litigation Support Services Unit, Ray Rozycki of the FBI's Special Projects Unit, Victim-Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker, Paralegals Nicole Tate and Shannon Alexis, Law Clerk Kathryn Graham, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Brittin and Fernando Campoamor-Sanchez, who handled the investigation and prosecution of the case.