Kamanye Williams, a 26-year-old resident of the District of Columbia and previously convicted felon, has been sentenced to 16.5 years in federal prison for his role as the gunman in a series of seven robberies at a Walgreens store in Chinatown. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Williams pleaded guilty earlier this year to conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery under the Hobbs Act, as well as two counts related to using and brandishing a firearm during crimes of violence and aiding and abetting. Alongside the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Jia M. Cobb ordered five years of supervised release for Williams and restitution totaling $7,245.75.
The case involved collaboration among several law enforcement agencies, including the FBI’s Washington Field Office Criminal Division and the Metropolitan Police Department.
According to court documents, Williams conspired with Gianni Robinson and two Walgreens store managers—Michael Robinson and London Teeter—to commit inside-job robberies over an eight-month period between July 2023 and February 2024 at the Walgreens located at 7th and H Streets NW. The group stole nearly $29,000 before being stopped on February 11, 2024, when Williams was shot by a Special Police Officer during an attempted robbery.
Each incident followed a similar pattern: a masked gunman would enter during cash transfers or after money had been moved into the Manager’s Office, force employees to provide access codes or enter himself, rob those present inside the office, then flee through a rear exit.
Investigators found that Michael Robinson and Teeter alternated pretending to be victimized managers during these staged events so that surveillance footage would appear authentic for later review by law enforcement.
Text message evidence revealed that the conspirators coordinated efforts to make each robbery look genuine. At one point, Williams suggested increasing violence in their approach out of frustration over unsuccessful attempts. Gianni Robinson indicated his uncle (Michael Robinson) was willing to play the part of victim if necessary.
Prior to certain robberies, Michael Robinson provided detailed insider information—including schedules for armed security guards’ presence, which employees knew office codes, timing for cash deposits into the office, and optimal moments for committing thefts.
On February 11, 2024, while an armed Special Police Officer escorted Michael Robinson with cash into the Manager’s Office around 6:28 p.m., Williams approached them with a gun and threatened deadly force against the officer. After gaining entry into the office along with Michael Robinson and disarming the officer, Williams took cash but was shot in the chest by another arriving armed SPO as he tried to leave. He was hospitalized following his arrest.
Williams had previously been convicted in D.C. Superior Court in 2021 for carrying a pistol without a license after involvement in a car-to-car shooting that left two men injured—one paralyzed—and received probation under the Youth Rehabilitation Act.
The investigation was led by the FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force with support from MPD officers. Prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Martin along with former prosecutors Justin Song and Monica Svetoslavov.
