D.C. Thief Gets 11+ Years for Violent Crime Spree

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Edward Lee Staton, Jr., 53, of Washington, D.C., is headed to federal prison for over eleven years after being sentenced to 137 months for a brazen string of thefts and a violent robbery. U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips announced the sentence, the culmination of a case revealing a pattern of calculated theft and intimidation across the nation’s capital.

Staton pled guilty in March 2017, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to a dozen offenses spanning 19 months. The charges included robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon, second-degree burglary, simple assault, second-degree theft, possession of a prohibited weapon, and failure to appear in court. Judge Ronna L. Beck handed down the sentence on May 10, 2017, with Staton facing an additional three years of supervised release upon his eventual departure from prison.

The government’s evidence painted a picture of a prolific thief responsible for over 35 incidents between February 2015 and September 2016. The total reported losses exceeded $30,000. Staton’s method was consistent: entering retail establishments with a large bag – often a trash or laundry bag – and systematically pilfering merchandise, including clothing, medication, and toiletries. He frequently targeted the same stores multiple times, demonstrating a callous disregard for the businesses and employees he victimized.

The crime spree included several specific incidents. On December 30, 2015, he hit a Gap store in the 600 block of 11th Street NW. January saw him targeting CVS locations on Connecticut Avenue and 8th Street NW. The violence escalated on July 10, 2016, when Staton robbed an elderly tourist on Massachusetts Avenue NW, brandishing a knife not only at the victim but also at two good Samaritans who attempted to intervene. Other locations included District Taco and Banana Republic on multiple occasions, and additional CVS stores throughout the city.

Staton was finally apprehended on September 13, 2016, bringing an end to the 19-month reign of theft. U.S. Attorney Phillips praised the work of the Metropolitan Police Department, particularly the detectives of the First Police District, as well as the CVS Organized Retail Crime Unit and the Mid-Atlantic Organized Retail Crime Alliance. The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kacie Weston, Veronica Sanchez, Douglas Klein, Brenna Bush, Lynda Randolph, Devin Barrett, and Andrew Floyd.

This case underscores the real-world impact of organized retail crime and the importance of swift prosecution. Staton’s actions weren’t just about stolen goods; they involved intimidation, violence, and the exploitation of vulnerable victims. His lengthy sentence sends a clear message: such behavior will not be tolerated on the streets of Washington, D.C.

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