Jonathon Brown-Murphy, a 44-year-old resident of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, has been sentenced to 63 months in federal prison for a series of bank robberies committed on May 23 and May 25, 2022. The sentencing took place in U.S. District Court and was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, along with FBI Washington Field Office Assistant Director Steven J. Jensen and Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith.
Brown-Murphy pleaded guilty on July 12, 2023, to three counts of bank robbery. In addition to his prison sentence, he will serve three years of supervised release as ordered by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon.
Court documents reveal that Brown-Murphy targeted six banks over two days in Maryland and Washington, DC. He disguised himself by covering his face and changing clothes during the robberies. On May 23, after failing to rob two banks earlier that morning, he entered a Truist bank in Temple Hills, Maryland at 11:08 a.m., passing a note to the teller demanding money under threat of violence. The teller did not comply.
Later that day at around 12:04 p.m., Brown-Murphy attempted another robbery at a Capital One branch on Alabama Avenue, SE. This time he succeeded after threatening the teller with a note and gesturing as if armed.
On May 25 at approximately 11:04 a.m., Brown-Murphy attempted another robbery at Wells Fargo in District Heights, Maryland but fled empty-handed when an alarm was triggered by bank staff.
A witness observed him leaving the scene in a black Cadillac and informed Prince George’s County Police officers who were arriving on site. A pursuit ensued leading to Suitland, Maryland where Brown-Murphy abandoned his vehicle before being apprehended wearing clothing linked to the robberies.
Brown-Murphy has been detained since his arrest on August 29, 2022. He has prior convictions for similar offenses.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Violent Crimes Task Force with support from several law enforcement agencies including the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland and local police departments.
