WASHINGTON, D.C. – A wave of terror gripped Northwest Washington in the fall of 2020, and now, justice is slowly catching up. Mekhi Truesdale, 19, and William Bell, 19, both of Washington, D.C., are facing a staggering 98-count indictment for a brazen series of armed robberies, kidnappings, and fraud schemes. Authorities say the pair systematically preyed on residents, leaving a trail of fear and stolen property in their wake.
The indictment, returned on November 5, 2021, details at least 11 armed robberies committed between October 17 and November 1, 2020. Locations spanned across Northwest Washington, including two incidents at Fort Reno Park. The spree reached a fever pitch on October 31st and November 1st, when Truesdale and Bell allegedly hit four locations – Fort Reno Park, the 3100 block of P Street NW, the 1400 block of 22d Street NW, and the 2400 block of Massachusetts Avenue NW – victimizing a total of nine people in a mere four-hour span. Three victims were also subjected to the terror of kidnapping, forced into vehicles during or after the robberies.
The feds say the duo didn’t just rely on brute force; they were tech-savvy criminals, utilizing mobile payment apps like Venmo and Cash App to quickly siphon funds from their victims. A third individual, Jada Winder, 19, of Greenbelt, Md., is also implicated, facing charges of fraud and receiving stolen property – allegedly benefiting directly from the ill-gotten gains. The announcement of these charges came from U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, alongside Wayne A. Jacobs (FBI), Pamela A. Smith (U.S. Park Police), and Robert J. Contee III (MPD).
Law enforcement moved swiftly, though not immediately. Truesdale was apprehended in Washington, D.C. on November 5, 2020, after a foot chase in Georgetown. Bell proved more elusive, finally being arrested yesterday in San Luis Obispo, Calif., by the U.S. Marshals Service. Winder was taken into custody in Greenbelt, Md., on November 24, 2021, also by U.S. Marshals. Both Truesdale and Bell remain detained, awaiting further court proceedings. All three defendants are scheduled to appear for a hearing on December 10, 2021, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
The charges against Truesdale and Bell are extensive, including conspiracy to commit a crime of violence, 95 counts of armed robbery, armed kidnapping, assault with intent to rob, assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and various fraud offenses. Winder faces two counts of first-degree felony fraud and two counts of receiving stolen property. This investigation was a joint effort by the MPD, FBI, and U.S. Park Police, with assistance from the Metro Transit Police Department and the Montgomery County, Md., Police Department.
While the indictment lays out a damning case, it’s crucial to remember that these are merely allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Gold and Charles R. Jones are leading the prosecution. U.S. Attorney Graves and the heads of the involved agencies commended the tireless work of the investigators, paralegal specialists Debra McPherson and Alesha Matthews Yette, and the Deputy U.S. Marshals who tracked down the accused. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it unfolds, bringing you the unvarnished truth from the streets of D.C.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington DC
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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