Burke Man Sentenced for Multiple Armed Robberies

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Larry Pyos, Jr., 35, of Burke, was sentenced today to 115 years and 10 months in prison for charges related to multiple armed robberies of businesses in Fairfax County and Falls Church.

Pyos faced a mandatory minimum of 10 years for discharging a firearm during one of his armed robberies, and he faced a mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison for discharging or brandishing a firearm during each of four other armed robberies.

Pyos was found guilty by a federal jury on Oct. 20, 2016. According to court documents, on Aug. 11, 2016, Pyos was indicted for conspiracy, armed robbery, using firearms in committing those robberies and being a felon in possession of firearms. In two of the robberies he fired shots at employees. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Pyos’ crime spree started on Christmas Eve 2015, when he robbed the Good Fortune Supermarket in Falls Church. Pyos, who was armed with a handgun, fired at a store employee as he fled. Pyos later robbed the Shri Krishna grocery store, the Dollar Power store, and the Ding How Carryout all in Springfield. Pyos next robbed the Hong Kong Palace Restaurant in Falls Church on April 26, 2016, and was again armed with a handgun that he fired at a pursuing employee as he fled. Pyos’ final robbery was of a Subway sandwich shop in McLean on May 9, 2016. Pyos was arrested on May 11, 2016, and has been in custody since that date. The two handguns Pyos used in committing these robberies were purchased by his girlfriend and co-conspirator, who previously pleaded guilty to charges arising from these robberies and testified at Pyos’ trial.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Andrew W. Vale, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Washington Field Office; and Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr., Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Gerald Bruce Lee.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tyler McGaughey and Michael Rich prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:16-cr-178.