D.C. Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Robbery of District Heights Liquor Store

Greenbelt, Maryland – Donnell Calloway, age 30, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to robbery conspiracy, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

The guilty plea 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; and Chief Hank Stawinski of the Prince George’s County Police Department.

 According to his plea agreement, on January 22, 2014, Calloway, Gregory Evans, and another co-conspirator robbed a liquor store in District Heights, Maryland.  After entering the store, Calloway stood by the door with a silver .45 caliber handgun. Evans jumped the counter and pointed a black handgun at store employees, demanding that they lay on the ground, while the third co-conspirator took money from the cash register.  Evans pointed his gun at an employee who opened the cash register, and Evans took money from that and another register.  Calloway, Evans, and their co-conspirator left the store with the money and escaped in a van.  A witness followed the van and reported a partial tag number to police.

The van was located by law enforcement in Prince George’s County where it was followed until it came to a stop in Washington D.C.  Responding officers saw the occupants exit the van and run away.  Officers apprehended Calloway and Evans after a foot chase. After his arrest, a search of Calloway recovered 45 small ziplock bags containing crack cocaine, which Calloway admitted he intended to distribute.  Officers also recovered the gun Calloway used during the robbery, a .45 caliber handgun with an obliterated serial number.  Calloway had a previous felony drug conviction and was therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Calloway faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.  U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow has scheduled sentencing for August 15, 2016 at 3:15 p.m.

Gregory Evans, age 30, of Washington D.C., previously pleaded guilty to his role in the robbery and was sentenced to 114 months in prison. 

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI and Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas M. Sullivan, who is prosecuting the case.