Stephen Kennedy, a 34-year-old resident of Temple Hills, Maryland, was sentenced on April 21 to 45 years in prison for his role in a series of arson and robbery conspiracies targeting convenience stores. U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang also ordered Kennedy to pay $367,354.82 in restitution and serve three years of supervised release following his prison term.
The case highlights efforts by law enforcement to address violent crime and protect public safety through coordinated investigations and prosecutions. According to court documents, Kennedy conspired with others between January 2021 and January 2022 to set fires at several 7-Eleven stores with the intent of stealing cash from ATMs inside the businesses.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence alongside officials from multiple agencies involved in the investigation. "This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone," Hayes said.
Kennedy's co-conspirators included Donnell Kelly, who received a ten-year sentence after pleading guilty in October 2024. The group used explosive devices during their crimes while stores were open for business; on one occasion they demanded money directly from store staff before setting fire to buildings and disabling security cameras so they could return later undetected.
The scheme caused losses totaling at least $90,000 for ATM companies affected by these crimes. Hayes commended various local agencies as well as federal partners such as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division’s Arson & Explosive Investigations Group for their work on this case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office serves nearly six million residents across Maryland according to its official website. The office employs over 200 personnel across civil, criminal, and administrative divisions according to its official website, handling federal prosecutions as well as civil cases involving government interests according to its official website. It traces its origins back more than two centuries according to its official website.
Looking ahead, officials say that programs like Project Safe Neighborhoods will continue focusing on reducing violent crime through partnerships between law enforcement agencies and community organizations.
