Robber Pleads Guilty to Using and Firing a Gun During the Robbery of a Kent County Pharmacy

Baltimore, Maryland - David Lee Dingess, age 27, of Middletown, Delaware, pleaded guilty today to using, carrying and discharging a firearm during an armed robbery of a pharmacy.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Acting Special Agent in Charge Marino F. Vidoli of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Kent County Sheriff John F. Price IV; and Kent County State’s Attorney Robert Strong.

According to Dingess’ plea agreement, on May 20, 2010, Dingess entered the Millington Pharmacy, located in Millington, Maryland, pointed a loaded firearm at the pharmacy employees and demanded oxycodone. The pharmacy employees placed the medication in a brown bag, which Dingess took, then fled through the rear exit of the pharmacy. The pharmacist and a delivery man pursued Dingess, who fired his gun before getting into a black Honda Civic and driving away. Dingess was later arrested and identified as the person who had robbed the Millington Pharmacy.

Dingess faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison. As part of the plea agreement, Dingess and the government have agreed that if the Court accepts the plea, Dingess will be sentenced to 10 years in prison. U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles, Jr. has scheduled sentencing for August 15, 2012 at 1:00 p.m.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the ATF, Kent County Sheriff’s Office, and the Kent County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys John W. Sippel, Jr. and Debra L. Dwyer, who prosecuted the case.