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Press Release

Baltimore Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Robbery

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Maryland
Attempted Three Armed Robberies in Less Than a Month

Baltimore, Maryland – Gilbert Stokes, age 46, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to the December 12, 2013 armed robbery of a Windsor Mill, Maryland, convenience store.  Stokes also admitted to the attempted armed robbery of a hotel on December 6, 2013, and to the armed robbery of a fast food restaurant on December 23, 2013.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Stephen E. Vogt of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Commissioner Anthony W. Batts of the Baltimore Police Department; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby.

According to Stokes’ plea agreement, on December 6, 2013, he entered a hotel on W. Madison Street in Baltimore, displayed a gun to the hotel clerk and demanded money.  The clerk advised that the only money on hand at the hotel was in the safe and the clerk did not have a key to the safe.  Stokes fled without obtaining any money.  After reviewing hotel surveillance video Baltimore Police detectives identified Stokes as the robber and the victim clerk identified Stokes from a photo array.

On December 12, 2013, Stokes entered a convenience store in Windsor Mill and brandished a handgun at two victims.  The victims were able to hide in the store and Stokes stole multiple packs of cigarettes and left the store.  The vehicle Stokes used to flee was identified by witnesses at the scene and subsequently located by police.  Recovered from under the front seat was a .357 Magnum revolver that matched the firearm seen in the store’s surveillance video.  A witness identified Stokes as the person who brandished the gun and committed the robbery.

Stokes also admitted that on December 23, 2013, he robbed a fast food restaurant on N. Howard Street in Baltimore, brandishing a weapon and demanding money.  Stokes stole approximately $200 from the register and fled.  Officers located Stokes on Greene Street, ducking near a vehicle.  Stokes was seen throwing an object under the vehicle.  Law enforcement recovered a .17 caliber BB-gun from under the vehicle and $190 from Stokes.  The victims were brought to the scene of the arrest and positively identified Stokes as the person who committed the armed robbery.

Stokes and the government have agreed that if the Court accepts the plea agreement Stokes will be sentenced to 18 years in prison.  U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III, has scheduled sentencing for August 21, 2015 at 11:00 a.m.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI, Baltimore Police Department and Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution.  Mr. Rosenstein thanked Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew K. Hoff, a cross-designated Baltimore City Assistant State’s Attorney, part of the Baltimore initiative to combat violent crime, and Assistant United States Attorney Bonnie S. Greenberg, who prosecuted the case.

Updated May 18, 2015