Armed Robber Admits to Robbing Three Businesses in a Week

Baltimore, Maryland – Elbert Darell Crump, age 47, of Towson, Maryland pleaded guilty today to robbery.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Chief James W. Johnson of the Baltimore County Police Department; Special Agent in Charge Kevin Perkins of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger.

According to his plea agreement, on January 14, 2015 Crump entered the Dollar Tree on Joppa Road in Towson, wearing a mask covering part of his face.  Crump pointed a semi-automatic handgun at a cashier and demanded money.  Crump took cash out of the register drawer, a dollar from a nearby customer, and fled.

On January 20^th, Crump entered the Gino’s Burgers and Chicken Restaurant on LaSalle Road in Towson.  Crump produced a firearm and demanded money from the employees. When the manager/employee had difficulty opening a cash register, Crump struck the manager in the head with the firearm, knocking him to the ground. Another employee helped the manager open the cash registers and Crump took the cash. A video recording shows Crump pointing the firearm in the direction of some of the customers as well as the employees.

The next day on January 21, 2015, Crump entered the Toys ‘R Us store on Putty Hill Avenue in Towson, wearing a ski mask on his face.  Crump pointed a gun at a cashier and demanded money.  The cashier ran out the front door.  Crump pointed his gun at another employee, forcing the employee to open eight cash registers and put the cash into a bag.  During this time, several customers and employees called 911.  Police from Baltimore County responded quickly and surrounded the store. Several customers who were inside fled the store and were moved to safety by the police. Crump attempted to leave by the front and then the back of the store, but returned inside once he saw all the police outside.

Baltimore County tactical officers and hostage negotiators arrived. Police were advised by fleeing customers that Crump was armed and that customers remained inside. Crump asked two customers to help him hide and handed them about $400. Crump hid in a large box on a shelf.  The customers who received the money left the store, told police where Crump was hiding and gave the police the money. Tactical officers and canine officers subsequently entered the store and located Crump, hiding in a large box on a shelf. A 24 hour search of the store took place before the .380 caliber handgun was located in the baby section inside a bag with $1,650 taken by Crump from all of the registers.

Video recordings of all three robberies identified Crump as the robber.  The firearm was registered to Crump’s girlfriend with whom Crump was staying.  Clothes worn by Crump during the robberies were found at their residence.

Crump had previously been convicted of at least one crime of violence and one drug offense.

Crump and the government have agreed that if the Court accepts the plea agreement Crump will be sentenced to 20 years in prison.  U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander has scheduled sentencing for March 4, 2016.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the Baltimore Police Department, FBI and Baltimore County State’s Attorney's Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution.  Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney A. David Copperthite, who is prosecuting the case.