Tyrone Jason Murphy, Armed Robbery and Firearms Charges, Maryland 2017

Baltimore, Maryland – Tyrone Jason Murphy, a 27-year-old from Washington, D.C., has been sentenced to 11 years in federal prison for his role in a string of 10 armed robberies of 7-Eleven convenience stores in Maryland.

The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang, who also ordered Murphy to serve three years of supervised release after his prison term.

Murphy pleaded guilty to charges of robbery and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The charges stem from a series of 10 armed robberies of 7-Eleven convenience stores that took place between May 17 and June 16, 2017.

According to the plea agreement, Murphy conspired with several co-defendants to commit the robberies. The group wore clothing to partially conceal their faces and used firearms to intimidate store employees. Murphy drove the robbers to the store locations in each robbery.

Specifically, Murphy admitted to committing the following armed robberies:

Robberies in Gaithersburg and Derwood, Maryland, on May 17, 2017, with Kione Anthony Banks and Leighton Cordell Williams;

A robbery in Hyattsville, Maryland, on June 11, 2017, with a co-conspirator;

A robbery in Gambrills, Maryland, on June 13, with Khiry Delonte Banks and Williams; and

Two robberies on June 14, 2017, first in Kettering, Maryland, with Khiry Banks and Williams, then in Rockville, Maryland with Khiry Banks.

The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and making neighborhoods safer for everyone. The program was reinvigorated by Attorney General Jeff Sessions in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI Cross Border Task Force, the Anne Arundel, Montgomery, and Prince George’s County Police Departments for their work on the case.

Murphy’s co-defendants, Khiry Delonte Banks and Leighton Cordell Williams, also pleaded guilty to the same charges. Khiry Banks was sentenced to nine years in federal prison on October 10, 2018, while Williams is awaiting sentencing.

The case is a reminder of the importance of community policing and cooperation between law enforcement agencies in reducing violent crime. The FBI Cross Border Task Force, which includes the FBI, local police departments, and other law enforcement agencies, worked tirelessly to bring the perpetrators to justice.