Serial Armed Robber Pleads Guilty

Baltimore, Maryland – Michael Toliver, age 40, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty today to robbery.

The plea agreement 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, Baltimore Field Office; Chief James W. Johnson of the Baltimore County Police Department; Commissioner Kevin Davis of the Baltimore Police Department; and Chief Gary Gardner of the Howard County Police Department.

According to his plea agreement and court documents, from May 17 to June 4, 2014, Toliver and others robbed commercial businesses located in Baltimore, Baltimore County and Howard County at gunpoint. In several of the robberies co-defendant Marcus Gray stood at the door and acted as the lookout, while Toliver pointed a gun at employees and demanded money.  Toliver admitted to robbing the following stores in Maryland:

Exxon gas station, Forest Rd., Columbia, on May 17;

Burger King, Rolling Mills Road, Dundalk, on May 17;

Bob Evans, Wholesale Club Dr., Nottingham, on May 19;

Safeway Food Stores, Harford Rd., Baltimore, on May 23;

Dunkin Donuts, Reisterstown Rd., Baltimore on May 23;

Sprint, Baltimore National Pike, Baltimore, on May 24;

Royal Farms, Pulaski Highway, Baltimore, on May 31;

BP gas station, Park Heights Ave., Baltimore, on May 31;

Royal Farms, Southwick Dr., Baltimore, on May 31; and

Royal Farms, Edmondson Ave., Baltimore, on June 4.

During the Dunkin Donuts robbery, Toliver struck the manager in the head with a handgun, causing injury.  During the Sprint store and BP gas station robberies, Toliver fired his gun into the floor or ceiling, when the managers of each store did not open the store’s safe.

Law enforcement reviewed video recordings of the robberies and identified Toliver as one of the robbers.  On June 4, 2014, law enforcement arrested Toliver and executed a search warrant on his car.  They seized a handgun and ammunition, along with a BB gun, a SWAT vest and gloves. Gray was arrested the following day.  Law enforcement executed additional search warrants and seized from Toliver’s residence another handgun, ammunition, $3,780 in coins or cash, and clothing worn by Toliver during several robberies.  Subsequent investigation revealed that the gun seized from Toliver’s vehicle was the gun fired during the BP Gas station robbery.

Toliver and the government have agreed that if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Toliver will be sentenced to 15 years in prison.  U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander has scheduled sentencing for August 25, 2016 at 11:00 a.m.

Marcus Gray, age 42, of Baltimore, previously pleaded guilty to his participation in several of the robberies and awaits sentencing.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI, Baltimore County Police Department, Baltimore City Police Department, Howard County Police Department and Baltimore County, City and Howard County State’s Attorney=s Offices for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney Debra L. Dwyer, who prosecuted the case.