Silver Spring Pair Sentenced In Armed Holdup At DC Drug Dealer's Home

SILVER SPRING, MD — Two Silver Spring men who tried to steal marijuana and cash from a drug dealer falsely advertising himself as a "licensed marijuana dispensary" on Instagram have been sentenced to federal prison.

Jose Gonzalez Pacheco, also known as “Jose Gonzalez,” 48, and Kenneth Demetrius Harris, also known as “Kenneth Vann,” 43, both of Silver Spring, were sentenced Thursday for their roles in an armed robbery on July 16, 2021.

The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs, of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Robert J. Contee, III, for the Metropolitan Police Department.

On Nov. 8, 2022, Gonzalez and Vann each pleaded guilty to interference with interstate commerce by robbery, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and two counts of threatening to kidnap or injure another person, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington, D.C.

As part of their pleas, the men admitted they entered a man’s apartment, knowing he operated an illegal marijuana dispensary from his residence, and intended to rob the man of marijuana and cash. Gonzalez and Vann — both of whom were armed with 9mm semi-automatic handguns — found the victim’s wife, female friend, and infant were also in the apartment.

The male victim tried to wrestle Vann’s gun away, at which point Vann choked and punched the man. While Vann had the man in a headlock, Gonzalez pointed a handgun at the male victim’s wife, friend, and baby, and told him to calm down before someone got hurt.

When the man relented, he, his wife, and his friend were bound and gagged with duct tape and zip ties, and the infant child was placed in a baby swing. The male victim removed the duct tape from his mouth and called for help, and a neighbor called 911.

Metropolitan Police Department officers responded and arrested Gonzalez and Vann before they could escape, the news release said.

A federal judge sentenced Gonzalez to 97 months in prison and sentenced Vann to 72 months in prison for the attack. Both men will each serve an additional 36 months of supervised release after their release from prison.