Baltimore Man Sentenced To 18 Years In Prison For Armed Robbery
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III sentenced Gilbert Stokes, age 47, of Baltimore, Maryland, today to 18 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for the December 12, 2013 armed robbery of a convenience store. Stokes also admitted to the attempted armed robbery of a hotel on December 6, 2013, and committing the armed robbery of a fast food restaurant on December 23, 2013.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Kevin Perkins of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Interim Commissioner Kevin Davis of the Baltimore Police Department; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby.
According to Stokes’ plea agreement, on December 6, 2013, he entered a hotel on W. Madison Street in Baltimore, displayed a gun to the hotel clerk and demanded money. The clerk advised that the only money on hand at the hotel was in the safe and the clerk did not have a key to the safe. Stokes fled without obtaining any money. Baltimore Police detectives reviewed hotel surveillance video and identified Stokes as the robber. The clerk identified Stokes from a photo array.
On December 12, 2013, Stokes entered a convenience store in Windsor Mill and brandished a handgun at two victims. The victims were able to hide in the store while Stokes stole packs of cigarettes and left. Witnesses at the scene identified the get-away vehicle Stokes used, which the police subsequently located. Recovered from under the front seat was a revolver that matched the firearm seen in the store’s surveillance video. A witness identified Stokes as the person who brandished the gun and committed the robbery.
Stokes also admitted that on December 23, 2013, he robbed a fast food restaurant on N. Howard Street in Baltimore, brandishing a weapon and demanding money. Stokes stole approximately $200 from the register and fled. Officers located Stokes on Greene Street, and saw Stokes throw an object under the vehicle. Law enforcement recovered a .17 caliber BB-gun from under the vehicle and $190 from Stokes. The victims were brought to the scene of the arrest and identified Stokes as the armed robber.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI, Baltimore Police Department and Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew K. Hoff, a cross-designated Baltimore City Assistant State’s Attorney, part of the Baltimore initiative to combat violent crime, and Assistant United States Attorney Bonnie S. Greenberg, who prosecuted the case.