A Maryland man has been sentenced to 13 years in federal prison for his involvement in a series of armed robberies, according to an April 28 announcement by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland.
U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman handed down the sentence to Derek Lynn Davis, age 36, of Greenbelt, Maryland. Davis was convicted of interfering with interstate commerce by robbery and using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. In addition to his prison term, he will serve five years of supervised release.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, said Davis and his co-conspirators stole more than $3,000 from several businesses during their crime spree between July and August 2023. Hayes said nine victims were threatened or terrorized during these incidents.
According to court documents cited in the announcement, Davis participated with different co-conspirators in robbing six businesses at gunpoint over this period—sometimes targeting multiple locations within one day. The group typically entered establishments armed with firearms and demanded that victims open cash registers under threat; one incident involved a co-conspirator firing a shot near two victims as they complied.
Hayes commended both the Federal Bureau of Investigation Baltimore Field Office and Prince George’s County Police Department for their work on this case and thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Dawn Williams for prosecuting it.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that brings together law enforcement agencies at all levels along with community organizations to reduce violent crime and gun violence nationwide.
The U.S. Attorney's Office serves nearly six million residents across Maryland according to its official website. It prosecutes federal crimes—including those involving firearms—and handles civil cases on behalf of the government while partnering with law enforcement agencies according to its official website. The office employs more than 200 people across its divisions according to its official website.
The office traces its origins back to legislation passed in 1789 according to its official website, counting alumni among prominent government leaders today according to its official website. Its stated mission is enhancing quality of life through effective justice administration according to its official website.
