UPPER MARLBORO MAN EXILED TO 25 YEARS IN PRISON FOR THE VIOLENT ARMED ROBBERY OF A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT

Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Alexander Williams, Jr. sentenced Bryon Mitchell, age 45, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, today to 25 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for armed robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Judge Williams also found that Mitchell is a career offender based on two previous convictions for crimes of violence.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Acting Special Agent in Charge Ashan Benedict of the ATF - Baltimore Field Division; Prince George's County State's Attorney Angela D. Alsobrooks; and the Prince George's County Police Department.

According to Mitchell's plea agreement, on May 29, 2011, Mitchell robbed a fast food restaurant in the 9400 block of Annapolis Road in Lanham, Maryland. During the robbery, Mitchell brandished a firearm and demanded that the store manager open the registers and safe. Mitchell pistol-whipped the manager who eventually complied with Mitchell's demands. Mitchell then forced the manager and a store employee into the freezer and fled with two bags containing a total of $850 in cash stolen from the restaurant.

Police arrived at the restaurant and with the help of eyewitnesses, saw Mitchell running away carrying the two bags of money and the gun. During the chase, Mitchell dropped one of the bags containing money. Mitchell, with his gun in his hand, then ran up to a vehicle that was stopped at a traffic light on Annapolis Road and jumped through the open passenger window. There were two adults and two children in the vehicle. Police surrounded the vehicle and successfully removed Mitchell from the vehicle, and recovered the gun and the remaining money stolen from the restaurant.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the ATF, the Prince George's County Police Department and the Prince George's County State's Attorney's Office for their work in this investigation and prosecution. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney Emily N. Glatfelter, who prosecuted the case.