Towson Liquor Store Robber Exiled to 20 Years in Prison

Pointed a Gun at the Store Clerk’s Head During the Robbery and Threatened to Kill the Clerk

BALTIMORE—U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Aaron Davis, age 25, of Baltimore, today to 20 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for an armed robbery where Davis pointed a gun at and threatened to kill a store clerk.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III; Chief James W. Johnson of the Baltimore County Police Department; Baltimore City State’s Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein; and Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger.

According to Davis’ plea agreement, on January 19, 2010, Davis and co-conspirator Edward Sample robbed a liquor store in Towson. Davis admitted that after pretending to want to purchase a small bottle of gin, Davis grabbed the store clerk, placed a Walther .32 caliber pistol to the clerk’s head, and demanded money. Davis threatened to kill the clerk if he did not give Davis the money in the store register. The clerk emptied the register, gave the money to Davis, then laid down on the floor behind the counter. A second clerk entered the store while the robbery was in progress. Sample began shouting at the second clerk to get in the back of the store and lie down on the ground. The second clerk emptied another cash register, gave the money to Sample and laid down on the floor. Davis and Sample left the store with the money. Davis was seen on the store’s security camera wearing a distinctive baseball cap during the robbery. Davis was wearing the same baseball cap when he was arrested several months later.

Edward Sample pleaded guilty to armed robbery and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 5, 2011 at 3:00 p.m.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the ATF, Baltimore Police Department, Baltimore County Police Department, and the Baltimore City and Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Offices for their work in this investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin M. Block, who prosecuted the case.