Marcus D. Wilkins, Assault on a Federal Officer, Virginia 2023

NORFOLK, Va. – A brazen act of violence at a Naval Air Station has landed a Virginia man behind bars. Marcus D. Wilkins, 27, of Virginia Beach, pleaded guilty to assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.

According to court documents, the incident occurred on May 1 at the Navy Exchange at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach. Wilkins removed a shopping cart full of unpaid merchandise from the store and was ordered to stop by a loss prevention officer. Instead, he walked away from the cart and toward his car.

An officer with the Naval Air Station Oceana base police observed Wilkins walking toward his vehicle and approached the vehicle, identifying himself as base police and positioning himself in front of the vehicle. Twice, Wilkins was ordered to stop, but he refused, starting his car and accelerating into the officer, lifting him off the ground with the hood of the car and pushing him backward in the air and to the ground.

Wilkins then fled the Navy Exchange parking lot, but was apprehended by members of the Virginia Beach Police Department shortly thereafter. He was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 8 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, praised the swift action taken by law enforcement in this case. ‘The safety of our employees and customers is our top priority, and we will not tolerate violence in our communities,’ he said.

The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alyssa K. Nichol. The sentencing of Wilkins will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced the plea, which was accepted by U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:16-cr-84.

Related Federal Cases