Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal criminal complaint has been filed charging Shaykh Abdul-Majid, age 35, of Washington, D.C., for federal armed commercial robbery and for discharging, brandishing, using, carrying, and possessing a firearm during and in relation to any crime of violence. At his initial appearance today, U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles B. Day ordered that Abdul-Majid be detained pending trial.
The criminal complaint 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; and Interim Chief of Police Hector Velez of the Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD).
According to the complaint, Abdul-Majid is charged with committing three armed robberies of businesses between June 29 and July 5, 2020. In each robbery, the complaint alleges that Abdul-Majid entered the store, pointed a silver and black handgun at the employee victims and customers, and demanded money, stealing a total of more than $2,700 in cash, as well as 10 cellular phones worth approximately $7,400, and a customer’s wallet. As detailed in the complaint, Abdul-Majid wore distinctive clothing and drove the same vehicle in each robbery.
At the robbery on July 5, 2020, the complaint alleges that after the store employee gave Abdul-Majid $200 in store funds at gunpoint, Abdul-Majid then demanded they move to the store’s back storage area. According to the complaint, fearing he would be shot, the employee attempted to remove the handgun from Abdul-Majid, who allegedly fired two rounds during the struggle. The employee’s hand and fingers were cut as he tried to prevent the handgun’s slide from racking as casings were ejecting. After the struggle, Abdul-Majid fled on foot out the back of the business with the store funds.
On July 7, 2020, detectives located Abdul-Majid in his vehicle, which was parked in Washington, D.C. Upon seeing law enforcement, Abdul-Majid fled from the vehicle on foot, but was apprehended a short time later. Law enforcement officers seized the vehicle and subsequently executed a search warrant on the vehicle. During the search, law enforcement recovered clothing consistent with the items worn in the robberies. Officers also recovered a silver and black handgun, consistent with the weapon used in the robberies.
If convicted, Abdul-Majid faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for robbery; seven years in federal prison, consecutive to any other sentence, for brandishing a firearm; and 10 years in federal prison, consecutive to any other sentence, for discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI and the PGPD, for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Hayes, who is prosecuting the case.
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