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Press Release

Millersville Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for the Armed Robberies of Cell Phone Stores

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Maryland
Robbed Stores in Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Montgomery Counties in Maryland

Baltimore, Maryland – Chief U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Parris Benjamin Chisholm, age 24, of Millersville, Maryland, today to 16 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for armed robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, related to the robberies of cell phone stores.

The sentence 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; Anne Arundel County Police Chief Tim Altomare; Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police Department; and Chief Mark A. Magaw of the Prince George’s County Police Department.         

According to his plea agreement, from January 29, 2013 through his arrest on March 26, 2013, Chisholm participated in the armed robberies of five cell phone stores in Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Montgomery Counties, along with co-defendants Donald Scott Deans, and Tyran Antwain Lane.

Specifically, Chisholm, his co-defendants, and others, planned and organized the theft of cash, credit cards, cell phones, portable electronic communications devices, and tablet computers from businesses, their employees and customers. Chisholm and his co-defendants then sold the stolen property for cash.  According to his plea agreement and other court documents Chisholm or his co-defendants used and brandished a gun to intimidate the employees during the robberies. In at least three of the armed robberies the defendants used duct tape to restrain employees and trash bags to carry the stolen items. The defendants used Chisholm’s car to travel to and from the robberies and to transport the stolen property and guns used during the robberies.  Cell phone records show that Chisholm, his co-defendants and others involved in the robberies and/or the sale of the stolen items communicated by cell phone calls and text messages before and after the robberies.

Chisholm was arrested on March 26, 2013, after the burglary of a cell phone store in the 7700 block of Belair Road in Baltimore County.  Chisholm used a rock to break a window in the front of the store and stole four cell phones.  Police pulled him over while he was driving his car.  Law enforcement recovered new and used rolls of duct tape, clothing, and hats similar to those described by robbery victims from the car.  The stolen cell phones were also recovered from the car.  Video from the victim store recorded Chisholm as he committed the robbery.         

Donald Scott Deans, age 23, of Largo, Maryland; and Tyran Antwain Lane, age 23, of New Carrollton, Maryland, previously pleaded guilty to their participation in the robberies.  Deans is scheduled to be sentenced on April 24, 2015, at 9:15 a.m., and Lane is scheduled to be sentenced on July 31, 2015 at 11:30 a.m.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the FBI, Anne Arundel County, Montgomery County, and Prince George’s County Police Departments, for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney John F. Purcell, Jr., who is prosecuting the case.

Updated April 23, 2015

Topic
Project Safe Neighborhoods