D.C. Gun Runner McNeal Gets 7 Years in Maryland Pawn Shop Heist

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Another piece of the puzzle fell into place today in the December 2023 armed robbery of A&D Pawn Shop in Glen Burnie, Maryland. Tyjuan McNeal, 28, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit firearms trafficking. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro announced the sentencing, a clear message that federal authorities are taking gun-related crimes seriously.

The brazen heist, executed on December 13, 2023, saw McNeal and at least four co-conspirators drive from D.C. with one goal: to strip the pawn shop of its firearms. Court documents reveal McNeal, already under court supervision and sporting an ankle monitor, attempted to evade detection by wrapping the device in aluminum foil – a pathetic attempt at subterfuge that ultimately failed. The crew didn’t bother with finesse; they used a portable saw to cut through the security gate and a crowbar to force open the main door.

Once inside, the quintet wasted no time grabbing an arsenal of rifles, shotguns, and pistols, making off with at least 34 firearms. The stolen weapons weren’t destined for collectors’ shelves. Instead, the group brazenly advertised the guns for sale on social media, turning a violent act into a quick-profit scheme. McNeal was apprehended on March 22, 2024, caught with a Glock 29 pistol and has been cooling his heels in jail ever since.

McNeal isn’t acting alone. Juwon Markel Anderson, 22, already received an 84-month sentence. Vincent Lee Alston, aka “Vedo,” 23, also received 84 months. Niquan “Stickz” Odum, 23, got a lighter sentence of 48 months. The final defendant, Cy’juan Hemsley, 20, who pleaded to conspiracy to commit theft from a firearms licensee and possession of stolen firearms, awaits his sentencing date. The feds are clearly aiming to dismantle the entire operation.

The investigation was a joint effort between the ATF Washington Division and the Metropolitan Police Department, with support from the ATF Baltimore Field Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shehzad Akhtar, with assistance from former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Lipes, drove the prosecution. This case serves as a stark reminder of the interstate flow of illegal firearms and the commitment of federal agencies to disrupt these dangerous networks.

In addition to the 84-month prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson ordered McNeal to serve three years of supervised release upon his eventual release. Whether that will be enough to keep this repeat offender from returning to a life of crime remains to be seen. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and bring you updates as they develop.