Julan Byrd, 18, from Temple Hills, Maryland, was sentenced in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia following his involvement in an armed carjacking that took place in September 2024. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Byrd, who was 17 at the time of the incident and charged under Title 16, pleaded guilty on November 17, 2025, to one count of armed robbery and one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. During sentencing on February 27, 2026, federal prosecutors sought a seven-year prison term followed by three years of supervised release. However, Judge Jennifer DiToro issued a fully suspended sentence of five years with one year of supervised probation. The court's decision was made under the Youth Rehabilitation Act despite objections from prosecutors. This law allows for sentences below the mandatory minimum for certain offenses if the defendant meets specific criteria.
Byrd’s co-defendant, Antonio Kent, 20, from Washington D.C., received his sentence on January 14, 2026. He also pleaded guilty to armed robbery and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Prosecutors requested seven years’ incarceration and three years’ supervised release for Kent as well. Judge DiToro again applied the Youth Rehabilitation Act over government objection and gave Kent a fully suspended four-year sentence with two years’ probation.
Records show that Byrd was detained from his arrest on September 30 until October 4, 2024 before being released on electronic monitoring despite government opposition. Kent remained in custody from February 28, 2025 until his sentencing date in January 2026. Both men will avoid serving their suspended sentences if they successfully complete their probation periods.
The case facts indicate that on September 1, 2024 Byrd, Kent and another suspect approached a man washing his car in Northeast Washington D.C., threatened him with a gun and stole his vehicle. They later abandoned the car at the Pentagon parking lot and fled on foot; both Byrd and Kent discarded handguns while escaping police pursuit. When apprehended by officers, Byrd had the victim’s key lanyard around his neck.
Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department joined U.S. Attorney Pirro in announcing these outcomes. "In announcing the sentence," said Pirro and Carroll jointly, "U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department." They also thanked other agencies involved including Arlington County Police Department, Pentagon Force Protective Agency and Virginia State Police for their roles in making arrests. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Roberts and former Assistant United States Attorney Luca Winer were recognized for prosecuting these cases.
