DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman sentenced a homicide defendant to 11 years of imprisonment despite objections from the victim’s family on Oct. 17.
De’Andre Sams, 29, pleaded guilty on Aug. 14 to voluntary manslaughter while armed for his involvement in the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Matthew Miller on Sept. 5, 2023 on the 200 block of M Street, SW. Miller’s death resulted from an attempted robbery and two additional individuals sustained gunshot wounds.
Keshawn Lavender, 24, and Raymond Mathis, 38, also face charges for their alleged involvement in the incident. They are both charged with conspiracy, first-degree felony murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, attempted robbery while armed, and three counts of possession of a firearm while armed.
As part of Sams’ plea deal, prosecutors agreed to a prison sentence of eight-and-a-half-to-13 years, contingent upon Judge Edelman’s acceptance.
At sentencing, Miller’s mother expressed, “Me and my daughter are not the same persons anymore, we walk around as shells of a person, pretending to be okay.” The mother said her only comfort was knowing her son did not suffer.
Miller’s mother noted that although Sams’ is incarcerated, his family can still visit him. “I have to visit my son in a graveyard,” she said.
“Finding my way through this grief I’m stuck with feels like trying to swim through concrete,” expressed Miller’s sister.
Miller’s sister described the case as a “miscarriage of justice” with “so little time, so little punishment.”
“They committed this cruel act completely out of selfishness and material desire. Please understand that these defendants will commit these same crimes again,” said Miller’s sister.
Miller’s godmother asked Judge Edelman “Your Honor, I am humbly asking you to let justice prevail, no slap on the wrist.”
Miller’s family members all requested Judge Edelman impose the maximum sentence on Sams.
After statements from Miller’s family, Judge Edelman implored why the prosecutor requested the sentence range in light of the tremendous impact on the family.
The prosecutor informed the judge the case had a “hole in the evidence” that created a litigation risk and the possibility of Sams’ acquittal if they proceeded to trial.
According to the prosecutor, Sams’ attempt to commit a robbery led to a gunfight in which Miller died, but there is no direct evidence of what occurred in the apartment.
The prosecutor requested Judge Edelman sentence Sams’ to 13 years of imprisonment.
Jessica Willis, Sams’ attorney, acknowledged the grief, anger, and frustration of Miller’s family and said Sams wrote them an apology letter. Willis asserted that based on their statements, Miller’s family might not understand the facts of the case.
According to Willis, the apartment had $90,000, 100 pounds of marijuana, and various guns when Sams’ and others attempted to commit the robbery that led to Miller’s death. Sams’ accepted responsibility for his conduct in the robbery but claimed he did not initiate or participate in the gunfight.
“Sams himself did not assault or shoot anyone,” declared Willis.
Willis claimed the evidence pointed to Deandre Christian, 31, as the person who fired the shot that killed Miller. Christian was originally charged with assault with intent to kill but pleaded guilty on Nov. 8, 2024 to felony possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
After discussing the defense’s theory of the case, Willis emphasized who Sams is as a person. She noted he suffered instability throughout his life but is currently devoted to his two children despite his incarceration.
Willis requested Sams’ serve an eight-and-a-half year prison sentence.
Judge Edelman acknowledged the difficult nature of determining a sentence in the case and that “an innocent life was lost in a tragic way.”
“The grief of Miller’s family is palpable,” said the judge.
Judge Edelman noted the seriousness of the crime but said the plea deal accounted for the lack of clarity surrounding who shot first and the events that transpired inside the apartment.
Judge Edelman sentenced Sams’ to 11 years of imprisonment with five years of supervised release. Sams will be required to register as a gun offender in DC upon his release. No further dates were set for Sams.
Prior to Sams’ sentencing, the prosecution extended plea deals to Lavender and Mathis. The deals would require them to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed. The prosecutor, in exchange, would dismiss all other charges and agree to a prison sentence of nine years for Lavender and eight-to-12 years for Mathis.
Mathis’ attorney, Carrie Weletz, informed parties that Mathis rejected the plea deal and opted to proceed to trial.
Lavender’s attorney, Kevin Irving, requested more time for his client to consider the offer.
Parties for Lavender are scheduled to reconvene on Nov. 12.
