North Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearms Charge for the 2002 Murder of an Employee of an Upper Marlboro Business

Victim Was Robbed, Shot, and Run Over After Picking Up Cash for the Business; Investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, and the Prince George’s County Police Department and Sheriff’s Office Solved a 17-Year-Old Murder

Greenbelt, Maryland – Levy Steven Moore, age 49, of Pollocksville, North Carolina, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Maryland to the federal charge of murder resulting from using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. 

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Chief Henry P. Stawinski III of the Prince George’s County Police Department; and Prince George’s County Sheriff Melvin C. High.

According to his plea agreement, on October 25, 2002, Moore and at least one accomplice planned to rob the victim-employee of the cash belonging to a business where the victim worked.  As part of his duties, the victim-employee deposited the business’ cash proceeds and obtained money to be used in the operation of the business at a bank in Capitol Heights, Maryland.

As detailed in his plea agreement, Moore and his accomplice drove to the business and waited outside for the victim-employee to leave with the cash deposit.  Moore was armed with a firearm and his accomplice was driving their vehicle as they followed the victim-employee from the business in Upper Marlboro, Maryland to the bank in Capitol Heights.  The victim-employee made the deposit and was returning to his car with a money bag containing $2,200, which represented the business’ daily operating funds, when he was confronted by Moore.  Moore attempted to take the money bag from the victim and shot the victim, who collapsed to the ground.  The victim sustained a gunshot wound to the left side of the base of the neck, which caused his death.  Moore admitted that he took the money bag, then got into the getaway vehicle driven by his accomplice.  According to the plea agreement, while fleeing the scene the robbers struck the victim’s vehicle, ran over the victim, and left the dying victim lying in the bank parking lot.

Moore faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.  U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm has scheduled sentencing for June 29, 2020, at 9:30 a.m.  Moore remains detained.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI, the Prince George’s County Police Department, and the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys William D. Moomau and Gregory D. Bernstein, who are prosecuting the case.