Defendant Pleads Guilty in Federal Court to Possessing Medication Stolen from a CVS Pharmacy During the Baltimore Riots

Baltimore, Maryland – Rashad Robertson, age 25, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty today to unlawful possession of Alprazolam, a prescription drug stolen during the looting on April 27, 2015 from the CVS Pharmacy located at 2509 Pennsylvania Avenue in Baltimore (CVS Pharmacy).

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; Commissioner Kevin Davis of the Baltimore Police Department; and Special Agent in Charge William P. McMullan of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division.

“Federal law enforcement agencies continue to work closely with local police and prosecutors to investigate crimes committed during the Baltimore riots,” said U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein.

On April 27, 2015, the CVS Pharmacy was looted and burned. According to his plea agreement, on June 17, 2015, Robertson unlawfully possessed a bottle of Aprazolam that he knew was stolen from the CVS Pharmacy during the April 27 riots.  The bottle contained 60 pills of Alprazolam and was found in Robertson’s bedroom.  Robertson did not have a prescription for the pills.

Robertson faces a maximum sentence of one year and a $1,000 fine. U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander scheduled sentencing for January 22, 2016, at 10:00 a.m.

On November 17, 2015, Raymon Carter, age 24, of Baltimore, was sentenced to four years in prison for the federal crime of rioting on April 27, 2015, including the arson of the same CVS.  Judge Hollander also entered an order requiring Carter to pay restitution of $500,000.

On September 23, 2015, Robert “Meech” Tucker, age 23, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty in federal court to being a felon who possessed a gun on May 4 near the CVS Pharmacy that was burned during street riots the previous week.  A citizen notified police officers that a man was armed with a handgun in the Penn-North section of Baltimore. When approached by police officers, Tucker threw a loaded gun on the ground and it fired.  He then pretended to be injured. His actions incited misguided bystanders who attacked innocent police officers.

A federal grand jury has indicted Darius Raymond Stewart, age 21, of Baltimore, for malicious destruction of real property by fire, arising from the arson of a liquor store on West North Avenue during the April 27 riots.  A federal grand jury has also indicted Donta Betts, age 19, of Baltimore, for attempted arson of a police cruiser, obstructing law enforcement officers during a civil disorder and making a destructive device during the April 27 riots near the CVS Pharmacy.  Stewart and Betts have pleaded not guilty, and both remain detained.  An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.

The federal crime of rioting, governed by Section 2101 and 2102 of Title 18 of the United States Code, applies when a defendant travels across a state line or uses a facility of interstate commerce, including a telephone, to participate in a civil disturbance involving acts of violence.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the DEA, Baltimore Police Department and ATF for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney Seema Mittal, who is prosecuting the case.