A D.C. woman, Antoinette Gilmore, 28, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for the kidnapping of her roommate. The conviction, handed down on May 20, 2024, stems from an incident on October 12, 2023, wherein Gilmore engaged in a violent dispute with her roommate, which ultimately led to his abduction, as reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The altercation began with a phone argument about living arrangements. Michael Brown, the victim, had agreed to retrieve his belongings from Gilmore's apartment. It was arranged for Gilmore to pick him up from downtown along with her cousin, who was also present during the incident, according to trial testimonies. Once Brown was in the vehicle, Gilmore directed her cousin to assault him and seize his possessions. Locked inside the car, Brown attempted to escape, successfully opening a door before being forcibly dragged back by Gilmore's cousin.
Brown's break for freedom came when they reached their predetermined destination. After being pulled out of the car, he managed to get away again and immediately reported the incident at the Sixth District Police substation. Gilmore's sentence, delivered by Superior Court Judge Errol Arthur, includes a subsequent five years of supervised release following her prison term. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara Hanson and Lauren Miller of the Major Crimes Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, with help from Paralegal Specialist Crystal Waddy and Supervisory Victim Witness Service Coordinator Katina Adams-Washington.
The Metropolitan Police Department led the investigation that resulted in Gilmore's conviction for kidnapping. This outcome provides a measure of closure for the egregious act committed by Gilmore against her former roommate, Mr. Brown. Despite his harrowing experience, justice has been served thanks to the diligence and coordination of law enforcement and the judicial system.
