Two District Men Sentenced to Significant Prison Terms
in Armed Robbery, Felony Assault
- Victim Was Threatened With Death if He Called Police -

     WASHINGTON - Edvin Ramirez, 25, and Kelvin Parada, 19, both of Washington, D.C., were sentenced today to significant prison terms for their roles in an armed robbery that took place in Northwest Washington last year, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.

     Ramirez was sentenced to eight years in prison, and Parada was sentenced to three and a half years. Both were convicted in November 2011, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, of charges of armed robbery and felony assault. Ramirez was also convicted of obstruction of justice and weapons-related charges. They were sentenced by the Honorable Ann O’Regan Keary.

     According to the government’s evidence, on May 31, 2011, at about 10:40 p.m., Ramirez and Parada accosted the victim in the 3100 block of 16th Street NW. When the victim refused Ramirez’s demands for money and ran, Ramirez and Parada chased and grabbed him just before he was about to enter his home. Ramirez then brandished a large kitchen knife and held it to the victim’s neck and side. When the victim tried to calm him down, Ramirez cut him with the knife on his thumb. Ramirez and Parada then forced the victim into a nearby park, where they threw him to the ground and robbed him of his belongings. Ramirez then threatened the victim, telling him that he would be killed if he reported the crime to police. Finally, Ramirez and Parada laughed at the victim and displayed gang signs as they ran from the area.

     Two days later, the victim saw Ramirez and Parada and others in the 1400 block of Park Road NW. He flagged down a police officer, and the defendants were stopped and later arrested. The knife used in the robbery was found under the steps where the men were sitting, and officers later recovered a receipt that had been in the victim’s wallet inside Ramirez’s nearby apartment.

     In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of the Metropolitan Police Department officers and detectives who investigated the case. He also thanked the agents with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for their cooperation in the investigation. U.S. Attorney Machen also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Yvonne Bryant and Tanya Via, of the Victim Witness Assistance Unit, and Paralegal Specialist Tamaya Reid. Finally, he expressed his appreciation to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Trevor N. McFadden and Mervin A. Bourne, Jr., of the Third District Unit of the Superior Court Felony Major Crimes Section, who prosecuted the case.

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