Wayne Bridgeforth, 60, of Washington, D.C., is headed to federal prison for 18 months after stealing a package from a doorstep in the DuPont Circle neighborhood and then flouting a direct court order to stay away from the area. The brazen theft occurred last summer, but Bridgeforth’s disregard for the law didn’t stop there — he returned to the crime zone, sealing his fate with a felony contempt charge.
Bridgedorf pled guilty in October 2016 in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to second-degree theft with a felony enhancement and felony contempt. Sentencing was handed down by the Honorable Neal E. Kravitz, who also mandated that Bridgeforth undergo drug and mental health treatment during his incarceration. Following his prison term, he will serve three years of supervised release — with a strict geographic ban from the DuPont Circle area.
The crime unfolded on July 25, 2016, at approximately 4:45 p.m., when a man walking his dog spotted Bridgeforth snatching a package from a stoop in the 1500 block of Q Street NW. The witness confronted him, threatening to call police. Bridgeforth dropped the box and bolted. Inside: a camera, unharmed but stolen nonetheless.
Metropolitan Police Department officers later confirmed Bridgeforth had been prowling the neighborhood for at least seven months. On August 10, 2016, he was arrested in the 1600 block of Church Street NW. He admitted to stealing packages and even penned a letter of apology to the victim. Released pending trial, he was explicitly ordered to avoid DuPont Circle — an order he shattered on September 7, 2016, when he was seen back in the restricted zone.
Bridgeforth’s criminal appetite isn’t new. Records show a pattern of mail and package theft dating back to 1984. He now carries nine prior convictions for theft-related offenses — a track record that helped push prosecutors for stiffer penalties. His repeated violations underscore a cycle of recidivism that federal authorities say they’re no longer willing to overlook.
U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips, who announced the sentence, praised the investigative work of the Metropolitan Police Department. He also commended Assistant U.S. Attorney Alysa Kociuruba, who prosecuted the case. “Stealing from doorsteps is not a victimless crime,” Phillips said. “And defying a court order only deepens the breach of public trust.”
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Key Facts
- State: Washington DC
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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