ALEXANDRIA, VA – Kenya Preston Williams, 37, of Washington, D.C., is facing a potential life sentence after a federal jury found him guilty today for his role in a series of brazen armed robberies targeting gas stations across Northern Virginia. Williams and his accomplice terrorized clerks and risked the lives of customers in pursuit of quick cash.
The evidence presented at trial detailed Williams’ involvement in the armed robbery of an Exxon gas station in Alexandria, as well as two separate heists at the same Shell gas station in Falls Church. His co-conspirator, Steven Oneil Houston, 26, of Oxon Hill, Maryland, had previously admitted guilt to charges related to brandishing a firearm during these crimes. The pair clearly operated with a disregard for human life, escalating their actions with each robbery.
“Williams is a violent criminal who engaged in a series of attempted robberies with a firearm,” stated G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Removing violent criminals off our streets is critical to ensuring that all have the opportunity to feel safe and secure where they live, go to school, and raise their families.” Terwilliger’s office made a clear statement: those who prey on the public will be aggressively prosecuted.
Williams was convicted on four serious federal charges: conspiring to obstruct commerce by robbery, obstructing commerce by robbery, brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He now faces up to life in prison, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 21 years. While federal sentencing guidelines allow for some discretion, the severity of the crimes suggests a lengthy period of incarceration is likely.
“Through our partnerships and WFO’s Safe Streets Violent Crime Task Force, we continue our commitment to investigate violent crime,” said Charles Dayoub, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal Division. “We will work together to keep our communities safe and bring justice to those who endanger the public.” This case underscores the importance of interagency cooperation in tackling violent crime within the National Capital Region.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice initiative focused on reducing violent crime through targeted enforcement and community-based prevention programs. The verdict was delivered by U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga, following presentations by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander E. Blanchard and Nicholas U. Murphy II. The Alexandria City Police Department, Prince George’s County Police Department, and Metropolitan Police Department all played crucial roles in the investigation. Sentencing is scheduled for September 13. Case No. 1:19-cr-29.
Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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