Getaway Driver Sentenced to More Than Twelve Years for His Role in Eight Commercial Robberies in the Richmond Area
RICHMOND, Va. – David Whitaker, 22, of Richmond, Va, was sentenced today to 154 months in prison for his role as the getaway driver in eight commercial robberies in the Richmond area. Targeting gas stations, fast food restaurants, convenience stores, and groceries, Whitaker and his accomplice’s crime spree netted over $3,000 in proceeds from these robberies.
Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Daniel Kumor, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division; and Bryan Norwood, Chief, Richmond Police Department, made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge Robert E. Payne.
Whitaker pled guilty pursuant to a plea agreement on February 10, 2012, to three counts of Robbery Affecting Interstate Commerce, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a), and one count of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). Whitaker’s convictions included the following robberies:
▪ April 30, 2011, robbery of BP Amoco, located at 2869 Broad Rock Boulevard, Richmond, Virginia
▪ June 5, 2011, robbery of the Valero Speed Mart, located at 2700 Broad Rock Boulevard, Richmond, Virginia;
▪ August 5, 2011, robbery of Allied Cash Advance, located at 4721 Walmsley Boulevard, Richmond, Virginia.
According to court documents, from April 30, 2011, through August 5, 2011, Whitaker participated in the robbery of eight commercial establishments in the Richmond area. During each of the robberies, Gary Young and Antonio Smith entered into stores armed with either a shotgun or BB gun and demanded money from an employee. On several of the robberies, a shotgun was brandished by one of the robbers. A total of at least $3,459 was obtained by the defendant and his accomplices as proceeds from these robberies. Smith was sentenced on February 23, 2012, to 471 months. Young was sentenced on May 3, 2012, to 462 months.
At sentencing, Whitaker admitted to committing five other robberies. These robberies included the robbery of the McDonald’s Restaurant, located at 821 Hull Street, Richmond, Virginia, on May 5, 2011; the robbery of the Lucky Convenience Store, located at 418 Cowardin Avenue, Richmond, Virginia, on May 31, 2011; the robbery of the Fine Food Superette, located at 700 Idlewood Avenue, Richmond, Virginia, on July 31, 2011; the robbery of the EZ Mart located at 1437 Hopkins Road, Richmond, Virginia, on August 2, 2011; and the robbery of the 7-Eleven, located at 6824 Forest Hill Avenue, Richmond, Virginia, on August 5, 2011.
This case was investigated by the ATF and the Richmond Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Erik S. Siebert and Peter S. Duffey prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.uspci.uscourts.gov.
