Greenbelt, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte sentenced George Gregory Allen, age 30, of Lanham, Maryland, today to 114 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for the armed robbery of a Hyattsville store

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Theresa R. Stoop of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; and Interim Chief Mark Magaw of the Prince George’s County Police Department.

According to Allen’s guilty plea, on May 22, 2010, Allen, wearing a black mask, coat and gloves, entered the Cheverly Sports Fair store, located at 5621 Landover Road in Hyattsville. Allen pointed a Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun at the owner of the store and demanded that the owner put money and ammunition into the bag that Allen was carrying. Allen put the gun down to grab additional ammunition to put in the bag. While the shotgun was on the ground the owner of the store hit Allen in the head, knocking him down. While the owner kept Allen from getting the gun, he called for help and two customers came to his aid, calling the police and helping to hold Allen. When police arrived a few moments later, officers were able to handcuff Allen after a brief struggle. The officers recovered the loaded shotgun, as well as five boxes of ammunition from Allen’s bag.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the ATF and Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney Stuart A. Berman, who prosecuted the case.