Maryland Man Sentenced to 35-Year Prison Term for Vehicular Homicide and Assault in December of 2022

WASHINGTON - Spiro Stafilatos, 39, of Silver Spring, MD, was sentenced today to 35 years in prison for striking two pedestrians with his vehicle in December 2022, killing Shuyu Sui and causing life-threatening injuries to Jiahui Wang, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

A jury found Stafilatos guilty on May 6, 2026, of one count each of second-degree murder, aggravated assault while armed, and fleeing. The Honorable Rainey Brandt sentenced Stafilatos to consecutive sentences of 20 years in prison for the murder and 15 years in prison for the assault. The government had asked the court for an upward departure from the sentencing guidelines, and the court agreed with respect to the assault, citing multiple aggravating factors related to the devastating injuries sustained by Ms. Wang.  

According to the government's evidence, at approximately 4:28 p.m., on December 30, 2022, Stafilatos was driving a dark Buick LeSabre sedan along the 700 block of 14th Street, NW, near the White House. U.S. Secret Service police officers observed that the vehicle's front tag was missing and the Maryland tag in the rear had no registration sticker. The Buick was then observed turning right into the 1400 block of G Street, NW, and proceeded to the 700 block of 15th Street, NW, where it stopped and let a passenger out.  

As officers approached the vehicle, identified themselves, and made contact with the defendant, they advised Stafilatos of his infraction, to which the defendant asked if he was going to get a ticket. Officers asked for the defendant's license, which he did not provide. Also, during the stop, officers noticed what they believed to be an open beer container to the right of the driver. While conducting the traffic stop, the officers noticed that the vehicle was still in drive and instructed Stafilatos to put the car in park. Instead, the defendant fled the scene, travelling north on 15th Street, NW before turning onto the 1400 block of New York Avenue, NW. As the vehicle entered an intersection on a solid red traffic signal, it was struck by another vehicle that was driving on a green traffic signal and the impact caused the Buick to rotate counterclockwise and strike two pedestrians who were walking nearby in the crosswalk. Both pedestrians were thrown and fell into the road in the middle of New York Avenue, NW. Both victims were transported to local hospitals. Despite all lifesaving measures, one victim, Shuyu Sui, was pronounced dead at Medstar Washington Hospital Center. The second victim, Jiahui Wang, was transported to George Washington University Hospital, where she was treated for trauma to the body and head. 

Stafilatos was placed under arrest and transported to Howard University Hospital for complaints of pain in the head and back. Testing conducted several hours after the crash at the hospital revealed that Stafilatos had recently used cocaine. He has been in custody ever since. 

 Joining in the announcement was U.S. Secret Service Police Chief Richard Macauley and Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. 

 In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro, Chief Macauley and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of Assistant United States Attorneys Jamie Carter and Will Lawrence, who investigated and prosecuted the case. 

2022 CF1 007710