Repeat Offender Clemons Gets 7+ Years for Bank Robberies

GREENBELT, MD – Marquis Von Clemons, 38, of Langley Park, Maryland, is headed back to prison after receiving a 92-month federal sentence today for a brazen string of bank robberies. U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang also ordered Clemons to serve three years of supervised release and pay $5,080 in restitution. This isn’t Clemons’ first rodeo; records show he’d just been released from a four-year stretch for robbing the same bank less than seven months prior.

The case, a joint effort by the FBI Baltimore Field Office and the Prince George’s County Police Department, detailed two robberies at the same Hyattsville bank, a week apart in February 2019. On February 13th, Clemons walked into the bank, handed a teller a threatening note – “I have a gun, do not say anything” – and made off with an undisclosed amount of cash. Surveillance footage caught him fleeing the scene, discarding a mask and distinctive clothing in the process. Cops quickly recovered those items, providing key evidence.

But Clemons wasn’t done. A week later, on February 19th, he tried the same scheme at the same bank. This time, however, a security guard – hired *after* the first robbery – was waiting. When Clemons refused to remove his mask and reached for his pockets, the guard intervened, detaining him until police arrived. A search revealed another threatening note stuffed in his pocket, and Clemons initially lied about his identity, providing a false name and social security number.

Investigators weren’t fooled. Fingerprints quickly confirmed Clemons’ true identity. A subsequent search of his residence turned up the hat and shoes he wore during the initial February 13th robbery. Crucially, DNA recovered from the discarded clothing linked him definitively to the crime. The evidence painted a clear picture: Clemons was a repeat offender, undeterred by his prior conviction.

“This sentence reflects the seriousness of the defendant’s actions and should serve as a deterrent to others,” stated Robert K. Hur, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland. Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the FBI and Interim Chief Hector Velez of the Prince George’s County Police Department echoed the sentiment, praising the collaborative investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rajeev R. Raghavan and Dana J. Brusca were the prosecutors on the case.

Clemons’ return to federal prison underscores a troubling pattern of recidivism. While authorities hope this lengthy sentence will finally break the cycle, the case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in dealing with habitual criminals. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the ongoing fight against violent crime in the region.