MD Man Sentenced For Armed Robberies Including 2 In Silver Spring

GREENBELT, MD — Israel Ramirez, 29, of Burtonsville, Maryland was sentenced in federal court on Thursday to 17 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release, according to a release. As part of a plea agreement, Ramirez admitted to a series of robberies that took place in 2021, including the robbery of two banks in Silver Spring.

On July 4 and July 12, 2021, Ramirez committed armed robberies at the same convenience store in Laurel, Maryland, according to court documents.

After the second robbery, Ramirez followed an armored truck that had just left a nearby bank to a second bank in a shopping center. Once there, he watched as the driver entered the bank and then reemerged with deposit bags, according to court documents. He then followed the truck to another bank, where he robbed the driver at gunpoint.

On Nov. 4 and Dec. 3, 2021, Ramirez robbed two banks at gunpoint in Silver Spring. A bank employee recognized Ramirez as a frequent customer, when Ramirez pulled his mask down during the second robbery, according to the plea agreement. Police obtained a search warrant and took Ramirez into custody at his residence later the same day.

Police charged Ramirez for the armed robbery of an armored truck, two armed bank robberies and the armed robbery of a convenience store. In each of the incidents, Ramirez fired his handgun. He fired it multiple times during the bank robberies, according to a release.