A botched drug rip-off turned deadly shootout in Lorton has landed 33-year-old Thomas Todd behind bars for 16 years. Todd was sentenced today in federal court on charges of attempted armed robbery, attempted possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and the use and discharge of a firearm during a violent crime. The June 24, 2016, basement ambush was meant to be a quick score—but ended in gunfire, chaos, and federal prosecution.
Court records reveal Todd conspired to rob a suspected drug dealer at gunpoint in the basement of an apartment complex in Lorton. The plan collapsed when the target arrived with an armed associate. What followed was a violent exchange of gunfire in the building’s lobby—bullets ripping through drywall, shell casings littering the floor. No one was killed, but the incident triggered a full-scale investigation by federal and local law enforcement.
Convicted by a federal jury on September 19, 2017, Todd now faces the consequences of his actions. U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady handed down the 16-year sentence after reviewing evidence from the trial, including testimony about the defendant’s role in planning and executing the armed robbery attempt. The discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence carried mandatory minimum enhancements, sealing Todd’s long prison term.
“This was not a crime of desperation—it was a calculated attempt to steal drugs and cash at gunpoint,” said Tracy Doherty-McCormick, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “When you bring a gun to a criminal deal, you’re playing with fire. Today, Thomas Todd got burned by the justice system.”
The case was jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), under Special Agent in Charge Thomas L. Chittum III, and the Fairfax County Police Department, led by Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Fahey, Ankush Khardori, and Samuel Lord led the prosecution, weaving together surveillance, ballistics, and witness testimony to secure the conviction.
Public court documents, including transcripts and filings, are accessible through the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or via PACER under Case No. 1:17-cr-24. The case stands as a grim reminder: in the underground economy, every deal carries a price—and for Thomas Todd, that price is 16 years in federal prison.
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Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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