Philadelphia Teen Charged in String of Armed Holdups

Abdullah Sirleaf, 19, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was charged today by indictment with robbery and gun charges for holdups at six different businesses in Philadelphia and Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, in June and July 2013, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. Sirleaf is charged with the armed robberies of Metro Self Storage, 2240 Island Ave., Philadelphia, on June 15, 2013; Gulla’s Auto Tag & Insurance, at 6301 Buist Avenue, Philadelphia, on June 17, 2013; the Sunoco gas station/convenience store, 2500 Island Avenue, Philadelphia, on June 21, 2013; Kerrs Building Materials, Inc., 1528 Washington Avenue, Philadelphia, on June 22, 2013; the 7-Eleven store, 1337 S. 58th Street, Philadelphia, on June 28, 2013; and the Papa John’s Pizza, 7 N. Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, on July 3, 2013.

If convicted of all charges, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum term of 107 years in prison with a maximum of life. He would also face up to five years of supervised release, a possible fine, a $1,100 special assessment, and restitution.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Philadelphia Police Department, Lansdowne Police Department, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, and the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ewald Zittlau.

An Indictment or an information is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.