A Washington D.C. man has been sentenced to 90 months in federal prison following armed robberies at two local businesses—a convenience store and a fast-food restaurant—that he committed back in December 2022. The U.S. Attorney's Office of the District of Columbia released a statement noting that 21-year-old Damion Byrd pleaded guilty to two counts of interference with interstate commerce by robbery, commonly referred to as Hobbs Act robbery, late last year.
Byrd, according to official court documents, on the night of December 13, entered a convenience store shortly before midnight. Pretending initially to purchase a bottle of water, he ended up pulling a firearm on the store employee, demanding, “I need the money all the money you have.” The terrified employee complied, emptying out the cash register into Byrd's hands.
Then, scarcely an hour later the same night, Byrd continued his criminal spree. He targeted a fast-food restaurant where he brandished his firearm once again, this time at the drive-thru window. The cashier on duty managed to escape from the scene, while Byrd took it upon himself to grab the cash register before fleeing in his silver-colored sedan. These details have been confirmed by several sources including U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent David J. Scott, and Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department Pamela A. Smith.
Following his guilty plea in December 2023, U.S. District Court Judge Tanya S. Chutkan handed down the 90-month prison sentence to Byrd, adding also three years of supervised release thereafter. The repercussions of Byrd's actions that night have culminated in this multi-year sentence, serving as a stark reminder of the serious consequences that follow such brazen acts of crime. These events underscore the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies to apprehend and prosecute individuals who disrupt the peace and safety of the community.
