William Thompson, Armed Robbery, Maryland 2019

GREENBELT, Maryland – A Silver Spring man has been sentenced to seven years in prison for his role in two armed robberies in the city. William Thompson, 27, was found guilty of interference with interstate commerce by robbery and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

According to court documents, on August 9, 2019, Thompson robbed a convenience store in Silver Spring, Maryland, wearing a black mask, distinctive glasses, a jacket, and light-colored gloves. Throughout the robbery, which was captured on video surveillance, Thompson brandished a semi-automatic rifle. He pointed the rifle at a store employee and demanded money, taking approximately $98 from the store.

The next day, August 10, 2019, Thompson used the same rifle to rob a market located in Silver Spring, Maryland. He pointed the rifle at the two store employees present and demanded money from the cash register. In fear for their lives, the victims gave Thompson approximately $400 of store funds. Thompson then fled the store in a blue four-door Subaru sedan.

A little over three hours later, Thompson was involved in a traffic accident in the Subaru in Rockville, Maryland. A search of the passenger compartment of Thompson’s vehicle led to the discovery of the black mask and gloves that Thompson had used in the robberies, as well as a loaded black and gray handgun, in the center console. A search of Thompson’s trunk uncovered the loaded semi-automatic rifle that Thompson had used in the robberies. In addition, numerous additional magazines and hundreds of rounds of ammunition were also located in Thompson’s vehicle.

A search warrant executed at Thompson’s residence uncovered more guns and ammunition, along with the jacket and shoes that the defendant wore during the robberies.

Thompson was sentenced to seven years and one day in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay restitution of $498.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Burden H. Walker, and the FBI and Montgomery County Police Department were commended for their work in the investigation.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/pr/silver-spring-man-sentenced-7-years-federal-prison-two-armed-robberies