Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Greenbelt, Maryland – Chief U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow today sentenced Antonio Edwards, age 41, of Capitol Heights, Maryland, to 20 years in prison, followed by eight years of supervised release; and sentenced co-defendants Shane Elliott Hare, age 27, of Hyattsville, Maryland, to 11 years in prison, and Gregory Antoine Williams, age 28, of Washington, D.C., to 150 months in prison, each followed by five years of supervised release.  Edwards, Hare, and Williams were convicted at trial on July 27, 2014 of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery; conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine; conspiracy to carry and use firearms in furtherance of a crime of violence and drug trafficking; and carry and use of firearms in furtherance of a crime of violence and drug trafficking.  Edwards was also convicted of possession of ammunition by a felon. 
 
The sentences were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge William P. McMullan of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Chief Mark A. Magaw of the Prince George’s County Police Department; and Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler.
 
According to the evidence presented at their nine-day trial, from May 9 to 16, 2013, Shane Hare, Antonio Edwards, Gregory Williams and co-defendant Marvin Bowden, conspired to rob drug dealers operating in Baltimore, Maryland, and sell over five kilograms of cocaine, using firearms.  Witnesses testified that on May 9, 2013, the co-conspirators were introduced to an undercover agent who proposed robbing a stash house. The conspirators agreed to commit the robbery and intended to resell the stolen narcotics to customers in the Prince George’s County and Washington Metropolitan area.
 
According to trial testimony, on May 14, 2013, the conspirators met again with the undercover agent and outlined their plan to carry guns and execute the robbery soon after the undercover agent entered the stash house. The conspirators told the undercover agent that they would wear black clothing with police insignias as disguises and yell “Police” upon entering.  On May 16th, the conspirators left the hotel room they used to prepare for the robbery and drove to the location where they planned to commit the robbery.  The conspirators were arrested, and law enforcement seized two loaded pistols from under and in the car used by the conspirators.
 
Co-conspirator Marvin Bowden, Jr., age 31, of Colmar Manor, Maryland, was sentenced on July 21, 2014, to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, and for conspiracy to carry and use firearms in furtherance of a crime of violence and drug trafficking.
 
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the ATF, Prince George’s County Police Department and Maryland Attorney General’s Office for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Rosenstein thanked Special Assistant United States Attorneys Gerald A. A. Collins, a cross designated Maryland Assistant Attorney General assigned to Exile cases, and Jennifer Sykes, a prosecutor with the Department of Justice Criminal Division, who prosecuted the case.