Laurence Cotton-Powell, 19, of Washington, D.C., and Anthony Taylor, 18, of Temple Hills, Maryland, have been charged in D.C. Superior Court in connection with an attempted carjacking, robbery, and assault of a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staff member. Cotton-Powell appeared in court on October 17, while Taylor appeared the following day. The charges stem from an incident that occurred on August 3.
The two men are also facing charges related to a separate attack and robbery of another man at a gas station that happened just before the attempted carjacking involving the DOGE staffer. Both were arrested in mid-October and are charged with attempted unarmed carjacking, two counts of robbery, and two counts of assault with intent to commit robbery.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, along with Commander Don Snider of the United States Marshals Service and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
“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.”
According to court documents, Cotton-Powell and Taylor were part of a group that approached a man and his friends outside a Sunoco gas station on U Street around 2:53 a.m. The group assaulted the man and his friends, with Cotton-Powell allegedly stomping on the victim’s head and Taylor participating in the attack. The victim managed to escape briefly, but was pursued, knocked down, and robbed of his watch and one shoe. Several friends of the victim were also assaulted.
Surveillance footage later showed the group walking toward Swann Street, NW. Less than ten minutes after the first attack, the group encountered the DOGE employee as he was walking a woman to her car. The employee pushed the woman into her car to protect her, and the group attacked him, demanding the car and attempting to gain entry, but were unsuccessful as the doors were locked.
An MPD officer arrived during the attack, causing the group to flee. Police arrested two juveniles at the scene.
After his arrest, Cotton-Powell admitted to assaulting the victim at the gas station and to participating in the later attack. Taylor also admitted to taking part in both offenses, including demanding keys from the DOGE staffer and assaulting him.
The investigation is ongoing and is being conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department and the United States Marshals Service.
