Teen Indicted on Armed Carjacking and Other Violent Crimes Arising from a Crime Spree in August 2023

            WASHINGTON – Montello Washington, 17, of Washington, D.C., was indicted today and charged as an adult with armed carjacking, armed robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon and related charges stemming from a spree of offenses occurring between August 15, 2023 and August 16, 2023, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced.

            Washington was indicted by a grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on one count of armed carjacking, two counts of armed robbery, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, unauthorized use of a vehicle in order to commit crimes of violence, and possession of a firearm during crimes of violence. Washington is scheduled to be arraigned on May 20, 2024, before the Honorable Lynn Leibovitz.

            According to the government’s evidence, late in the evening of August 15, 2023, Washington and several accomplices robbed a man at gunpoint while the victim was on his way to work.  During the next several hours, into the early morning on August 16, 2023, Washington and his accomplices committed a series of armed robberies, armed assaults, in which they fired gunshots at two victims, and an armed carjacking. Later in the evening on August 16, 2023, after MPD officers saw the stolen car used to commit these offenses in Southeast DC, they attempted to stop it. The driver led MPD on a pursuit through the District, into Maryland, and back into the District before three people eventually bailed out of the car.  Police apprehended Washington and another person after they fled from the vehicle.

            This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).  

            This case is being prosecuted by AUSAs Stephanie Dinan and Sabena Auyeung of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

            An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.