Armed Career Criminal and Serial Armed Robber Convicted After Six-Day Federal Trial in Maryland

 Facing a Mandatory Minimum Sentence of 43 Years in Federal Prison

Baltimore, Maryland – Donte Lamont Dingle, a/k/a Kane, Donte Dingol, Donta Dingle, and Dante Dingle, age 47, of Baltimore, Maryland, was convicted after a six-day federal trial of the following charges: four counts of interference with commerce by robbery; a conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery; four counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.  In each of four liquor store robberies, Dingle brandished a gun and wore various costumes and disguises.  The jury returned its verdict on October 20, 2020.  

The conviction 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 Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department; and Anne Arundel County Interim Police Chief William Lowry.

According to the evidence presented at trial, between June 6, 2018 and July 12, 2018, Dingle committed four armed robberies of liquor stores located in Baltimore and Anne Arundel Counties. During each of these robberies, Dingle entered the store and brandished a pistol at the victims, forcing them to empty the money from the cash registers into his bag and often threatening the victims with death or serious bodily injury.  After getting the money from the registers, Dingle forced the victims into a room in the rear of the store, and then fled to a waiting getaway car.  During the robbery on June 6, 2018, in Catonsville, Maryland, this resulted in the store owner suffering a fractured neck.  During the robbery on July 12, 2018, in Reisterstown, Maryland, witnesses testified that Dingle racked the slide of his gun loading a bullet into the chamber, pointed the gun at the store clerk, and threatened to put a bullet in the clerk’s head if he didn’t comply with Dingle’s orders.  In total, Dingle stole approximately $10,000 from the four stores.

According to trial testimony, DNA matching Dingle’s was recovered from a fake mustache that the robber had left on the floor behind the counter at the June 6^th robbery.  Dingle’s DNA was also recovered from clothing, wigs, glasses, and other disguises that matched items worn by the robber, as well as from a silver .380-caliber pistol, that were seized by law enforcement during the execution of a search warrant at Dingle’s residence.  Dingle’s fingerprint was also recovered from a bag of chips grabbed by the robber then left on the counter at the July 12^th robbery.

Dingle faces a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, and a maximum of life in prison for each of four counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to interfere with commerce by threats and violence, and a maximum of 20 years in prison for each of four counts of interfering with commerce by threats and violence.  Finally, as an armed career criminal, with prior robbery convictions on his record, Dingle faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to life in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.  As a result of his conviction on four counts of brandishing a firearm and his status as an armed career criminal, Dingle faces a total mandatory minimum sentence of 43 years in federal prison.  A federal district court judge will determine the final sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.  U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow has not yet scheduled sentencing.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI and the Baltimore County and Anne Arundel County Police Departments for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Goldsticker and LaRai N. Everett, who are prosecuting the case.