Two D.C. men have received their sentences for the burglary of a Gucci store in Northwest last September. Husan Thurston, 32, and Alton Pernell, 28, both residents of Washington, D.C., faced Judge Andrea Hertzfeld on January 22, and were handed prison terms for the theft that occurred at the luxury retailer.
According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr.'s office, Thurston was sentenced to 24 months of incarceration followed by three years of supervised release, while Pernell received a 24 months’ sentence with six months suspended, plus one year of supervised probation. Both pled guilty to second-degree burglary on November 19, 2024.
The incident was captured on surveillance footage showing the two men forcibly entering the Gucci store at around 11:00 p.m. on September 9, 2024. The store, situated on the 1000 block of I Street, NW, was not open for business when Thurston and Pernell were spotted by law enforcement officers attempting to break in. The video footage showed them kicking in the door and rushing to snatch handbags from display stands.
When responding officers entered the establishment, both men tried to escape, fleeing toward the rear of the store where they were apprehended. U.S. Attorney Martin and Chief Pamela Smith of the MPD, in revealing the sentences, commended the police department for their swift action. MPD's work, along with the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hannah Skopicki and Elizabeth Ginsburg who led the prosecution, were acknowledged for their diligence in bringing the case to a close.
