Armed Robberies In Arlington Lead To Conviction

ARLINGTON, VA—A man believed to have taken part in two Arlington armed robberies has been convicted. Lamont Kortez Gaines, 28, of Washington, DC is among four men that prosecutors say committed armed robberies and carjackings in Arlington and the DC area. The crimes occurred from Nov. 1, 2016 to April 12, 2017.

According to prosecutors, Gaines had been involved in armed robberies at two 7-Eleven locations in Arlington. Nearby, he was believed to have taken part in an armed carjacking in Alexandria and an armed robbery of an Advance America Cash Advance store in the Alexandria area of Fairfax County.

Gaines was convicted Monday of conspiring to obstruct commerce by robbery, obstructing commerce by robbery, carjacking, brandishing a firearm during and in relation to crimes of violence and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He faces up to 82 years in prison when sentenced on April 27.

The three other defendants, Desmar Rashad Gayles, Andrew Bernard Duncan and Anton Durrell Harris of Washington, DC, previously pleaded guilty to brandishing a firearm during and in relation to crimes of violence.

In all, the four men carried out 19 armed robberies of commercial establishments and three carjackings, according to the indictment. They were charged in May 2017. The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia and the FBI, as well as Fairfax County, Arlington County, Alexandria, Bladensburg and Prince George's County Police Departments announced the indictment. The D.C. Metropolitan Police Department assisted with the investigation.

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