Laurence Cotton-Powell, 19, from Washington, D.C., and Anthony Taylor, 18, from Temple Hills, Maryland, have been charged in connection with an attempted carjacking, robbery, and assault of a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer. The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Cotton-Powell and Taylor also face charges related to a separate robbery and attack on a male victim at a gas station that took place just before the incident involving the DOGE staffer. Cotton-Powell was arrested on October 16 and made his initial appearance in D.C. Superior Court on October 17. Taylor was arrested on October 17 and appeared in court on October 18. Both are charged with attempted unarmed carjacking, two counts of robbery, and two counts of assault with intent to commit robbery.
Commander Don Snider of the United States Marshals Service and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department joined U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement.
“We are leaving no stone unturned to bring to justice criminals who perpetrate random, unprovoked, and brutal attacks on people who are unlucky enough to be in their path,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This is about the safety of individuals in this community – make no mistake, the rights of victims are paramount, and we will pursue justice, swiftly and vigorously on their behalf.”
Court documents state that Cotton-Powell and Taylor were part of a group that approached a man and his friends outside a Sunoco gas station on the 1400 block of U Street at around 2:53 a.m. The group assaulted the man and his friends. Cotton-Powell allegedly stomped on the victim’s head, while Taylor participated in the attack. The victim tried to escape but was followed, knocked down, and further assaulted. The group took the victim’s watch and one shoe. Several of the victim’s friends were also attacked.
After the robbery, surveillance footage showed the group heading toward the 1400 block of Swann Street, NW. About ten minutes later, around 3 a.m., the group encountered the DOGE employee on Swann Street as he walked a woman to her car. The DOGE employee pushed the woman into her car to protect her. The group attacked him, demanded the car, banged on it, and tried to open the doors, but the woman had locked them.
An officer from the Metropolitan Police Department arrived during the attack. The group fled when they saw the officer. Police arrested two 15-year-old juveniles at the scene.
Cotton-Powell admitted to police that he assaulted the victim at the gas station and also admitted to kicking and punching another victim later that night. Law enforcement connected this to the attack on the DOGE employee. Taylor also admitted to police that he participated in both incidents. He stated that he demanded the keys from the DOGE staffer and admitted to punching and kicking him, as well as taking part in the earlier assault at the gas station.
The Metropolitan Police Department and the United States Marshals Service are investigating the case.
