Deondre Rogers, 20, and Hanif Brown, 20, both of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty on Aug. 4 to charges including armed carjacking and armed robbery related to a series of incidents in 2023, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Rogers and Brown each pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking, armed robbery, robbery, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and two counts of carrying a pistol without a license. Sentencing is set for September 25 before Superior Court Judge Jason Park. The plea agreement resolves an 87-count indictment against the defendants. Both were 17 years old at the time the offenses occurred. The government is seeking sentences of 17 years’ incarceration for each defendant for the carjacking and robbery charges.
According to government evidence presented in court, on April 7, 2023, at about 2:00 p.m., Rogers and Brown rear-ended a white Jeep inside the Third Street Tunnel while driving a stolen Mercedes sedan. After exiting their vehicle with firearms drawn, they demanded that the occupants exit their Jeep before stealing it.
On April 16 around midnight in the area of Fifth Street NW, Rogers and Brown robbed another victim at gunpoint after pulling up alongside him in a white Chevrolet sedan. One defendant exited with a firearm and demanded keys and cell phone while the other remained seated; both drove away with stolen property.
A third incident took place on May 4 at approximately midnight when Rogers and Brown robbed two victims at gunpoint on U Street NW. They stole items including two necklaces, an iPhone, designer belts, an Audemars watch valued around $40,000 as well as a Rolex worth about $7,000.
The same night as this last robbery incident occurred, Rogers posted videos online showing himself wearing one of the stolen watches; both defendants appeared later in social media posts wearing both watches taken during these crimes.
The Metropolitan Police Department investigated this case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Travis Wolf, Valerie Tsesarenko, and Brian Hanley.