D.C. Gun Trafficker Alston Gets 7 Years for Maryland Pawn Shop Heist

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A brazen December raid on a Maryland pawn shop has landed 23-year-old Vincent Lee Alston, also known as “Vedo,” a hefty 84-month federal prison sentence. Alston, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court for his central role in the meticulously planned burglary of A&D Pawn Shop in Glen Burnie, Maryland, a Federal Firearms Licensee. The heist resulted in the theft of at least 34 firearms – rifles, shotguns, and pistols – quickly flooding the streets.

According to court documents, Alston spearheaded the operation alongside four co-conspirators. On December 13, 2023, the crew rolled into Glen Burnie in two vehicles, including a stolen Hyundai. Niquan Odumn, 23, of D.C., wielded a portable saw to slice through the security gate, while another accomplice used a crowbar to force open the main door. Once inside, the quintet systematically stripped the shelves, making off with a dangerous arsenal.

The getaway didn’t last long. Just a half-hour after the burglary, the red Hyundai crashed on I-295 southbound at Kenilworth Avenue, NE. Surveillance footage captured Alston and two other co-defendants abandoning the wrecked vehicle. A search of the car yielded eight of the stolen firearms. Crucially, investigators recovered Alston’s damaged iPhone from the driver’s side floorboard. The phone revealed an open GPS route with a visible destination address – Alston’s own residence – along with text messages indicating pre-planning of the burglary.

Law enforcement apprehended Alston at his apartment complex on December 15, 2023, discovering a Smith & Wesson, M&P 9 mm – confirmed as stolen from the pawn shop – in his possession. To date, authorities have managed to recover close to half of the stolen firearms, but many remain unaccounted for, posing a continuing public safety threat. Alston pleaded guilty on March 6 to conspiracy to commit firearms trafficking, acknowledging his leadership in the criminal enterprise.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro announced the sentencing, highlighting the seriousness of the crime. Judge Amy Berman Jackson, in addition to the 84-month prison term, ordered three years of supervised release following Alston’s incarceration. This isn’t an isolated case; Niquan “Stickz” Odumn, 23, received 48 months for conspiracy to commit theft and possession of stolen firearms, while Juwon Markel Anderson, 22, was sentenced to 84 months for burglary and attempting to sell the stolen weapons. Another co-defendant, Tyjuan McNeal, 27, is slated for sentencing on July 1, and Cy’juan Hemsley has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.

The investigation was a joint effort by the ATF Washington and Baltimore Field Divisions, and the Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shehzad Akhtar, with assistance from former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Lipes, prosecuted the case. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the fates of the remaining defendants. This case serves as a stark reminder of the interconnectedness of gun trafficking and violent crime plaguing the region, and the dedicated work of law enforcement to disrupt these dangerous operations.