IN THE COURTS | District Man Pleads Guilty to Charges for Armed Carjacking and Robbery in Northeast Washington

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, November 4, 2022

Defendant Was Caught Driving Victim’s Vehicle Within Minutes of Offense

            WASHINGTON - Devin Gatewood, also known as James J. Williams, 23, of Washington, D.C., has pleaded guilty to felony charges stemming from an armed carjacking and robbery in the Trinidad area of Northeast Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            Gatewood pleaded guilty on Nov. 3, 2022, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to one count of robbery, one count of carrying a dangerous weapon, and one count of unauthorized use of a vehicle. The Honorable Jason Park scheduled sentencing for Jan. 6, 2023.  At the time of the offense, Gatewood was on probation for an April 2022 misdemeanor firearms conviction in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.  The Honorable James A. Crowell IV has scheduled a probation revocation hearing in that case for Jan. 20, 2023.

            According to the government’s evidence, on the evening of Aug. 28, 2022, Gatewood and an unidentified accomplice approached the victim, who was sitting in his parked vehicle in the 1100 block of Queen Street NE. The victim felt uneasy and got out of his car to make small talk with the men.  Gatewood produced what appeared to be a 9mm handgun and communicated to the victim that he was being robbed.  The victim laid down on the ground, while Gatewood and the accomplice took his iPhone, Apple Watch, car keys, and cash.  Gatewood drove away in the victim’s vehicle, and the accomplice left in a separate vehicle. 

            The victim called the Metropolitan Police Department, which located the victim’s vehicle within minutes.  Police followed behind the vehicle, which came to an abrupt stop.  Gatewood jumped out of the vehicle’s driver’s seat and began to flee on foot but was quickly apprehended.  No firearm was recovered.  Gatewood has remained in custody since his arrest.

            In announcing the guilty plea, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department.  They also acknowledged the efforts of those working on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Crystal L. Waddy.  Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul V. Courtney, who investigated and prosecuted the case.