Michael Daniels, Hobbs Act Robbery, Washington DC, 2022

WASHINGTON DC – A brazen string of armed robberies that left small businesses shaken in the nation’s capital has come to an end with the guilty plea of Michael Daniels, 36, of Washington D.C.

According to court documents, Daniels pleaded guilty to interference with interstate commerce by robbery, also known as a Hobbs Act robbery, in connection with six armed robberies that occurred in early 2022.

The first robbery took place on January 28, 2022, at a dry cleaner on Capitol Hill. A man wearing a distinctive sweatshirt with an image of the Pink Panther and Inspector Clouseau approached the cash register and demanded money, ordering the cashier to lie down on the floor and count down from 100.

Five more similar robberies followed, with the most recent taking place on February 13, 2022, at a mobile phone store on the 3700 block of Georgia Ave NW. In each case, the suspect wore a mask and brandished a handgun, demanding money and in some cases, even counting down from a specific number while the cashier complied.

However, investigators were able to crack the case when a mask was dropped at one of the crime scenes, and DNA analysis revealed that it belonged to Daniels. The suspect’s distinctive tattoos near his eyes, which were visible despite the use of a mask, also provided a crucial clue in identifying him.

Daniels was arrested on April 12, 2023, in Washington D.C. and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 5, 2024. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nihar Ranjan Mohanty and Madhu Chugh of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

As the city continues to grapple with the consequences of these brazen crimes, the guilty plea of Michael Daniels brings a sense of relief to the victims and the community at large. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilant law enforcement and the effectiveness of cooperation between agencies in bringing perpetrators to justice.

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