Defendant Saw Victim With Cash at Nearby Convenience Store
WASHINGTON - Lance Applewhite, 33, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to four years of incarceration for robbing a man in broad daylight at a bus stop in Northwest Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Applewhite was found guilty in January 2015 by a jury of a robbery charge, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Zoe Bush sentenced him today to a total of 15 years in prison, but suspended all but four years of that time on the condition that he successfully complete probation. Following his prison term, Applewhite will be placed on three years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, on the afternoon of Sept. 17, 2014, the victim was on his way home from work and was making a purchase of food at a convenience store at 14th Street and Columbia Road NW. The victim had about $200 in cash in his wallet, and Applewhite was standing next to him as he took out money to pay for the purchase and received his change. Applewhite followed the victim out of the store, and went directly to the bus stop where the victim began waiting. At that point, Applewhite took out a knife and threatened to kill the victim if he did not turn over his money and cell phone.
The victim complied, and Applewhite ran away. The victim quickly flagged down a passer-by so that he could call police and report the robbery. Police reviewed surveillance footage from the convenience store, leading to Applewhite’s arrest.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. He also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Marando, who assisted in the investigation; Paralegal Specialist Shirrel Jackson, and Litigation Technology Specialists Anisha Bhatia and Leif Hickling. Finally, he expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Marco A. Palmieri, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
