Chinatown Walgreens Robber Gets 10.5 Years

⏱ 3 min read

Gianni Robinson, 28, is trading city sidewalks for concrete cells after getting 126 months in federal prison for a brazen series of armed robberies targeting a single Walgreens in D.C.’s Chinatown. Between July 2023 and February 2024, Robinson masterminded seven inside-job heists at the store on 7th Street NW, racking up almost $29,000. He pleaded guilty in February, but that didn’t buy him much leniency.

Robinson wasn’t the one brandishing the heat, court papers show. He linked up two Walgreens managers – his uncle, Michael Robinson, and London Teeter – with Kamanye Williams, the masked gunman. He supplied Williams with access codes, gave the nod for each robbery, and even planned the escapes. The kicker? Prosecutors revealed Robinson shared a police surveillance video of a previous robbery with Williams…and punctuated it with a laughing emoji. Cold.

This wasn’t just about money. One Walgreens employee took a bullet to the chest during one of the heists. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro wasn’t impressed with Robinson’s sense of humor. “He thought the crimes he conspired on were funny,” she stated. “Now…Robinson isn’t laughing anymore.” The total take: $28,983.00. He’ll also serve five years of supervised release and must fork over $7,245.75 in restitution.

Robinson was convicted under the Hobbs Act for conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery, and for possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. The case highlights the danger of insider threats and how far criminals will go for a quick buck, even when lives are on the line.