D.C. Trio Pleads to Armed Robbery Conspiracy Spanning Six Weeks, 13 Incidents, and Two Jurisdictions

WASHINGTON -- Three District of Columbia men pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to their roles in an armed robbery conspiracy that involved carjacking victims at gunpoint and targeting fast-food workers, convenience store employees, FedEx drivers, and a GameStop in the District and Maryland over a six-week period in early 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

Kanard Bishop, 28, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery in violation of the Hobbs Act, and to using and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Edward Leroy Brown, 26, aka "Shiesty," and Khalil Boyd, 20, pleaded guilty to the same charges. All three defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison on the firearm count alone, which must run consecutive to any other term of imprisonment. Judge Rudolph Contreras scheduled sentencings for August 5, 2026.

"These defendants chose to carry out a campaign of armed robbery and carjackings across multiple communities," said U.S. Attorney Pirro. "Their calculated pattern of violence put innocent people in harm's way - this behavior will not be tolerated. Today's guilty pleas send a clear message: those who terrorize our communities will be brought to justice."

According to court documents, beginning on Feb. 14, 2024, and continuing through March 28, 2024, Bishop, Brown, and Boyd, agreed to rob retail stores and carjack victims at gunpoint across the District of Columbia and Maryland. Over the course of the conspiracy members of the group carried out or attempted at least 13 separate robberies and carjackings.

The conspiracy began on Feb. 14, 2024, when Bishop and Brown entered the Big Ben Market in Capitol Heights, Maryland, pointed firearms at an employee, and demanded cash. When they could not access the register, they fled and drove to a nearby McDonald's, where they opened the drive-through window from the outside and pointed a firearm at an employee before fleeing again. On March 17, 2024, Bishop and another conspirator carjacked two victims at gunpoint in the 4400 block of Southern Avenue SE. The two stole the victim's 2008 Mercedes Benz, and also robbed both victims of their cell phones, wallet, ID, credit card and $2,000 in cash.

The pace of the conspiracy accelerated dramatically on March 20, 2024. In the early morning hours, Bishop and Boyd carjacked a victim at gunpoint in the area of 2000 35th Street NE, stealing his 2018 Dodge Durango. The group then used the stolen Durango to attempt a third McDonald's drive-through robbery, rob a Denny's restaurant on Benning Road NE where Bishop ripped a cash register off the counter, rob a 7-Eleven in Landover, Maryland, where Bishop jumped the counter to grab the register, and rob a convenience store in District Heights where they forced an employee inside at gunpoint and stole about $200 and tobacco products.

On March 27, 2024, Bishop and Boyd carjacked another motorist at a gas station in District Heights, Maryland, knocking him to the ground during a struggle before fleeing in his 2022 Dodge Challenger. Later that day, Bishop and Boyd approached two FedEx employees, who were working in a FedEx truck at the intersection of Burns Street and G Street SE. Wearing masks and pointing firearms at both workers, they took wallets, cellphones, and four packages from inside the truck.

The conspiracy ended on March 28, 2024, at a GameStop in District Heights. Bishop and Brown entered the store, struck an employee, and demanded that workers open the cash registers and the safe. When police arrived, both fled on foot with firearms. A detective shot Brown in the lower body as he fled and took him into custody. Police recovered a loaded ghost gun from Brown -- a privately manufactured firearm with no serial number, untraceable by law enforcement. Bishop threw his loaded firearm to the ground as he fled and was also apprehended.

Boyd, who had remained in the stolen Challenger outside the GameStop, fled the scene after police arrived. He carjacked another driver at gunpoint, stealing a Nissan Rogue. While attempting to escape, Boyd crashed into two police cruisers -- one marked and one unmarked -- before abandoning the vehicle and fleeing on foot. Officers apprehended him. Police recovered a loaded Glock 23C .40 caliber handgun from the vehicle.

This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office Violent Crime Task Force and the Metropolitan Police Department's Carjacking Task Force, with valuable assistance from the Prince George's County Police Department.

It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Blake J. Ellison. Former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa Jackson, Alex Schneider, and AUSA Omeed Assefi investigated the case. Valuable assistance was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Parrone who is now with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

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