Southeast Thief Kenneth Collins Faces 1-Year Jail Stint After CVS Heist

A brazen thief has been brought to justice in the nation’s capital. Kenneth Collins, 37, of Washington, D.C., has been indicted on one count of felony second-degree theft stemming from a January 17, 2024, incident at a CVS store in Southeast, Washington, D.C.

According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Collins allegedly took merchandise without paying from the CVS store, sparking a subsequent investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department. His actions did not go unnoticed, and Collins was subsequently arrested.

But what makes this case particularly noteworthy is that Collins has prior theft convictions, which will now result in enhanced penalties for his alleged theft. As a result, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of one year in jail for each count of theft for which he is indicted.

This case marks the 42nd instance since September 1, 2023, where the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia has indicted a case involving a felony second-degree theft charge based on a defendant’s two or more prior theft convictions, not from the same occasion.

The investigation was a joint effort between the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Cotter is leading the prosecution.

It’s worth noting that an indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.

Collins is set to be arraigned on May 22, 2024, at a hearing before a Superior Court judge. The outcome of this case remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Collins will face the consequences of his alleged actions.