Two Washington, D.C. men are now facing federal charges after what authorities describe as a months-long string of armed robberies at six T-Mobile stores and a pawn shop in the District and neighboring Maryland. Between November 2025 and March 2026, employees and customers were allegedly threatened at gunpoint while safes were forced open and cash and mobile devices carried out. The arrests, announced in late June, cap what investigators say was a coordinated, multi-location setup intended to avoid quick detection and feed into broader worries about violent, high-value retail theft in the region.
Prosecutors have identified the defendants as 30-year-old Juwan Tyre Hall and 32-year-old Anthony Burno, both of Washington, D.C. A federal grand jury indicted them on four counts of interference with interstate commerce by robbery. According to court filings, the pair allegedly entered stores dressed in black and wearing masks, brandished a handgun to threaten workers and customers, and took cash and devices from store safes before fleeing in stolen vehicles. The arrests and indictment were announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
How Prosecutors Say The Robberies Played Out
Prosecutors say the robbery spree bounced from location to location, targeting six T-Mobile outlets and one pawn shop, with both cash and phones taken from store safes. Investigators allege the suspects repeatedly used stolen vehicles to get away, then switched clothes and cars to frustrate efforts to track them. In its U.S. Attorney’s Office announcement, the government stressed that “charges in an indictment are merely allegations” and that Hall and Burno are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in court.
Federal Charges And Potential Penalties
The four counts are brought under the federal Hobbs Act for “Interference with Interstate Commerce by Robbery,” a statute used when robberies are alleged to impact commerce. A conviction on a Hobbs Act robbery count can carry a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison along with potential fines. Prosecutors also note that they could seek additional firearm-related penalties if they file separate counts under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c), which imposes mandatory consecutive minimum sentences for using, brandishing, or discharging a gun in connection with certain crimes. The statutory text and sentencing framework are detailed by Cornell Law School’s Legal Information Institute for 18 U.S.C. § 1951 and in a separate entry on 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) at the same Legal Information Institute resource.
Why Cellphone Stores Keep Getting Hit
High-value electronics, especially smartphones, remain prime targets in organized retail theft because they are compact, easy to move, and backed by robust resale markets. Industry groups and lawmakers have been increasingly vocal about the problem as retailers report more aggressive and coordinated theft. The D.C. arrests land amid ongoing national debates among Congress, retailers, and law enforcement over tougher tools to tackle organized retail crime and cargo theft. For a broader look at those trends and the industry’s response, see Retail Dive.
What Comes Next In The Case
After the indictment was returned and arrests were made, the case was placed on the federal docket as 26cr139. According to prosecutors, the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department are continuing their investigation while the U.S. Attorney’s Office moves the case through federal court. Further hearings and filings will shape what, if any, trial the defendants ultimately face.
