D’Marrell Mitchell, 36, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 224 months in federal prison for his leadership role in a violent multi-state robbery spree targeting pharmacies and cell phone stores across the District, Maryland, Virginia, and New Jersey. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, following Mitchell's conviction on October 28, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Pirro emphasized Mitchell's predatory actions, stating, “D'Marrell Mitchell and his crew turned pharmacies and cellphone stores into hunting grounds, terrorizing workers and customers all to feed a criminal enterprise that treated other people's safety as an acceptable cost of doing business.” She added that Mitchell planned the robberies, recruited others, and profited from the proceeds. Judge Amy B. Jackson also ordered three years of supervised release.
Between May 2020 and May 2021, Mitchell and his co-conspirators executed at least 19 robberies, primarily targeting pharmacies for opioids and cell phone stores for devices to resell. This extensive conspiracy terrorized over 40 victims and yielded more than $300,000 in stolen narcotics and cellphones. Mitchell was a principal organizer and personally assaulted employees during multiple incidents, including at CVS stores in Neptune, N.J., and Pasadena, Md., and a T-Mobile in College Park, Md.
During a November 12, 2020, robbery at a Glen Echo, Md., pharmacy, Mitchell forced an employee to their knees, struck them, and grabbed another by the neck before stealing narcotics. In the final robbery at a Pasadena CVS, he bound an employee's hands with zip ties after forcing them to open a narcotics safe, leading to his apprehension on a nearby rooftop as police arrived. Mitchell also utilized a juvenile co-conspirator and had photos of firearms consistent with those used in the robberies on his phone. He has a significant criminal history, including convictions for assault and multiple theft offenses.
Co-defendant and co-leader Ashley Gause, 33, found guilty of similar charges, is scheduled for sentencing on August 20, 2026. The FBI’s Washington Field Office led the investigation, with assistance from numerous local police departments.