Baltimore Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Robbing Eight Businesses in Two Weeks

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz sentenced Ricky Tolson, age 45, of Baltimore, today to 15 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for robbery.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Kevin Perkins of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Chief James W. Johnson of the Baltimore County Police Department; Commissioner Kevin Davis of the Baltimore Police Department; Chief Gary Gardner of the Howard County Police Department; Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby; and Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger.

According to his plea agreement, from June 7 to 20, 2015, Tolson entered the following eight businesses, located in Maryland, demanding money from their employees: Ramada Inn in Pikesville, Roland Park Exxon Gas station on Falls Road in Baltimore, Shell Gas station on Smith Avenue in Baltimore, Sunoco Gas station in Pikesville, SF Mini Mart in Clarksville, BP Gas station in Lutherville, Cricket Store in Owings Mills and the Game Stop on Old Court Road in Baltimore.

In each robbery, Tolson made it appear to the employees that he had a gun. After his arrest on June 24, 2015, however, he told investigators that he did not have a gun. Tolson fled from five of the robbery scenes with approximately $2,915 in cash. He fled from another two scenes with an undetermined amount of cash, and fled the BP gas station before he stole any money.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI, Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office, Baltimore County Police, Baltimore City Police, Howard County Police and Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Rosenstein thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew K. Hoff, a cross-designated Baltimore City Assistant State’s Attorney, who prosecuted the case.