Washington, DC Man Convicted of Carjacking of a Pregnant Annapolis Woman

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal jury today convicted Cornell Louis Robinson, age 44, of Washington, D.C., on charges related to the armed carjacking of a couple who were about to enter their vehicle to go to the hospital because the woman was in labor.

The conviction 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; Annapolis Police Chief Michael A. Pristoop; and Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Wes Adams.

 According to evidence presented during Robinson’s three-day trial, on March 2, 2014, at approximately 4:30 a.m. Robinson, co-defendant Devery Kelley, and others approached two individuals on Copeland Street in Annapolis, Maryland, as they were getting into their car.  The victims were planning to go to the hospital because the woman was in labor. The male victim fled from the car and called the police. Witnesses testified that Robinson and Kelley were both armed and forced the woman at gunpoint to accompany them to an apartment building nearby, demanding money.  The woman repeatedly told them that she was in labor and did not have the key to the apartment, only the car key.  Robinson and other robbers took her, continuing to hold her at gun point, and tried to get her to open an apartment.  The victim again told the robbers that she did not have a key to the apartment.  When it became clear that she could not get into the apartment, Robinson took the key to the car and left in the victim’s car.

The robbers, driving the stolen car, were followed by officers from the Annapolis Police Department. Witnesses testified that at the corner of Tyler Avenue and Hilltop Lane a handgun was thrown out of the window of the car, but was recovered by police.  On Tyler Avenue Robinson and Kelly both got of the car and ran away, but were arrested nearby.

Robinson faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for carjacking; a maximum of life in prison for possession and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence; and a maximum of 10 years in prison for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon.   No sentencing date has been set for Robinson, who remains detained

Deverey Hasani-Jarod Kelley, age 25, of Glen Burnie, Maryland, previously pleaded guilty to his role in the crime and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 12, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. Kelley also remains detained.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI, Annapolis Police Department, and Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution.  Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bonnie S. Greenberg and Patricia C. McLane, who are prosecuting the case.