Baltimore Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Three Armed Robberies Committed in Less than a Month

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles, Jr. sentenced Rodney Smith, age 51, of Baltimore, Maryland, today to 10 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiring to commit three armed robberies and using and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. 

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

According to Smith’s plea agreement, from September 2013 through October 11, 2013, Smith conspired with Derek Roberts to commit armed robberies at a fast food restaurant, a drug store and a gas station.

According to their plea agreements, on the morning of September 15, 2013, Smith and Roberts went to a fast food restaurant in Rosedale, Maryland, and waited for an employee to arrive.  When the employee arrived to open the store Smith and Roberts approached him. Roberts pointed a loaded gun at the employee and pushed him into the store.  Roberts tied up the victim and demanded money from the cash register.  Roberts and Smith stole approximately $200 from the restaurant.  On September 27, 2013, Smith and Roberts robbed a drug store in Havre de Grace.  When two employees began closing the store, Roberts pointed a loaded gun at the employees and forced them into the store, where he and Smith tied up the victims and demanded money.  One of the victims opened the store safe and Smith took money from the safe.  Smith and Roberts stole $3,400 from the store, several cartons of cigarettes and a purse belonging to one of the victims. On October 3, 2013, Smith and Roberts drove from Maryland to a gas station in Fredericksburg, Virginia.  An employee let Smith and Roberts into the store and Roberts pointed a loaded gun at the victim.  Roberts instructed the victim to go to a back room and lay on the ground, and demanded money.  Smith and Roberts stole approximately $200, cartons of cigarettes and beer from the gas station.

Derek Roberts, age 45, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty to his role in the robberies and was sentenced to 19 years in prison.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI, Baltimore County Police Department and Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and thanked Cecil County State’s Attorney Ellis Rollins, Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby, and their offices for their assistance in the prosecution.  Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney Bonnie S. Greenberg, who prosecuted the case.