Anthony Griffin, Robbery, Maryland 2007

Baltimore Store Robber Exiled to Over 12 Years in Prison

Baltimore, Maryland – In a brazen display of violence, Anthony Griffin, a 44-year-old Baltimore resident, was sentenced to 151 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for robbery. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander, who also found Griffin to be a career offender based on four prior convictions for robbery-related crimes.

The sentence will be served concurrent to a 15 year state sentence Griffin is currently serving for a 2010 robbery conviction in Baltimore County. United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Stephen E. Vogt, Baltimore City State’s Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein, and Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony W. Batts all commended the efforts of the FBI, Baltimore Police Department, and Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation.

Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin M. Block prosecuted the case. According to his plea agreement, on February 5, 2007, Griffin selected several items at a lingerie store located at 1003 South Charles Street in Baltimore that he pretended to want to purchase. After the store owner placed the items in a bag, Griffin told her “this is a robbery” and demanded money from the register.

The store owner placed approximately $200 in the bag with the items, and upon Griffin’s further demand, gave him her diamond engagement ring. At this point, a customer entered the store. Griffin forced the store owner to tie the hands and feet of the customer with pantyhose, and then Griffin tied the owner’s hands and feet with pantyhose.

A friend of the owner who was coming to meet her saw Griffin leave the store and suspecting something was wrong, alerted a nearby policeman who located the owner and customer. The owner told the policeman that the robber’s mouth was red, as if he had been drinking a red beverage. Griffin had discarded the Slurpee straw and cup at a nearby jewelry store soon before the robbery.

A clerk at the nearby jewelry store identified Griffin in a photo lineup as the man who had drank and discarded the Slurpee at the jewelry store. DNA was recovered from the straw used by Griffin to drink the Slurpee. The lingerie store owner/victim also identified Griffin in a photo lineup.

The case highlights the importance of forensic evidence in solving crimes. The use of DNA from the Slurpee straw was instrumental in leading investigators to Griffin’s doorstep.

Griffin’s sentence demonstrates the severity of the crime of robbery and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their actions. The 151 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release is a significant sentence that reflects the seriousness of the crime.

Defendant: Anthony Griffin, 44, of Baltimore, Maryland.

Criminal Charges: Robbery.

City and State: Baltimore, Maryland.

Exact Date: February 5, 2007.

Sentence or Outcome: 151 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

Dollar Amounts: $200.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/pr/baltimore-store-robber-exiled-over-12-years-prison