Truesdale and Bell Hit with 98 Counts for Armed Robbery, Kidnapping

WASHINGTON – Mekhi Truesdale, 19, and William Bell, 19, both of Washington, D.C., are facing a litany of life-altering charges after being indicted on 98 counts for their alleged roles in a series of armed robberies that terrorized Northwest Washington last fall. The trio, which included Jada Winder, 19, from Greenbelt, Md., has been charged with conspiracy to commit armed robbery, armed kidnapping, and fraud, among other offenses.

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The indictments were announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, along with law enforcement heavyweights Wayne A. Jacobs of the FBI, Pamela A. Smith of the U.S. Park Police, and Robert J. Contee III of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The charges stem from a months-long investigation that began after a string of armed robberies took place in October and November 2020.

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Bell was apprehended by the U.S. Marshals Service in San Luis Obispo, Calif., while Winder was taken into custody in Greenbelt on Nov. 24, 2021. Truesdale faced arrest back in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 5, 2020, after a high-speed foot chase through the Georgetown area. All three are currently detained pending further court proceedings and are set to appear for their hearing on Dec. 10, 2021.

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According to the government’s evidence, Truesdale and Bell robbed at least 20 people at gunpoint or knifepoint across Northwest Washington between Oct. 17 and Nov. 1, 2020. Three victims were reportedly kidnapped and forced into vehicles before being robbed. Following many of the incidents, they used mobile applications to siphon funds from their victims.

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The indictment outlines a series of 11 armed robberies committed between Oct. 17, 2020, and Nov. 1, 2020. Truesdale and Bell are charged with multiple offenses including conspiracy to commit a crime of violence, 95 counts of armed robbery, armed kidnapping, assault with intent to rob, assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and various fraud offenses. Winder faces two counts of first-degree felony fraud and two counts of receiving stolen property.

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An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The case is being investigated by the MPD, FBI Washington Field Office’s Violent Crimes Task Force, and U.S. Park Police, with valuable assistance from the Metro Transit Police Department and Montgomery County, Md., Police Department.

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During the announcement of the charges, U.S. Attorney Graves, Special Agent in Charge Jacobs, Chief Smith, and Chief Contee expressed their gratitude for the collaborative efforts of all agencies involved. They also acknowledged the work of Debra McPherson and Alesha Matthews Yette from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Gold and Charles R. Jones.