Two co-defendants accepted plea deals for their involvement in several offenses before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt on Aug. 3.
At the hearing, Hanif Brown, 20, and Deondre Rogers, 20, both pleaded guilty to carjacking, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of carrying a pistol without a license, armed robbery, and robbery. The charges stem from their alleged involvement in three separate instances from April 7, 2023 to May 4, 2023 throughout DC.
The plea offers were contingent on both defendants’ acceptance of the terms.
As part of the agreement, parties set the guidelines for Brown’s sentence between 12-and-17 years in prison. Rogers’ plea deal set 17 years of imprisonment. Both agreed-upon sentences are subject to DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park’s approval at sentencing.
Brown’s attorney, Andrew Ain, and Rogers’ attorneys, Daniel Dorsey and Tammy Thom, all requested alternative sentencing for their clients under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA). The YRA allows judges to give flexible sentencing and the ability to seal convictions for defendants who commit offenses under the age of 25.
Prosecutors said if the cases had proceeded to trial, they would have proven that on April 7, 2023, Brown and Rogers rear-ended a car in a white Jeep on the 5800 block of South Dakota Avenue, NE. The pair exited the Jeep, approached the car with firearms and told the other driver to exit. They took the car and drove off.
For their alleged connection to several robbery and carjacking incidents on April 7, Rogers and Brown were formerly charged with four counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of armed carjacking, seven counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, robbery while armed, and three counts of unauthorized use of a vehicle during a crime of violence.
In addition, prosecutors said that they would have proven that on April 16, 2023, Rogers and Brown robbed a victim at gunpoint at the intersection of 5th and Q Streets, NW. The defendants pointed a handgun at the victim and demanded their keys and phone, which the victim surrendered.
Previously, Rogers and Brown were charged with armed carjacking, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and robbery while armed for their connection to the April 16 incident.
At trial, prosecutors said they would have been proven that on May 4, 2023, Rogers and Brown robbed two victims at gunpoint on the 1400 block of U Street, NW, stole their phones, a necklace, a belt, and two watches. Then, prosecutors said Brown posted pictures and videos with the stolen watches, Rogers posted videos with one of the watches, and both were in a music video wearing the stolen watches.
For their involvement in the May 4 offense, Rogers and Brown were formerly charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of robbery while armed, and unauthorized use of a vehicle during a crime of violence.
As a result of the plea agreement, all other charges Rogers and Brown faced in relation to other incidents were dismissed.
Brown was formerly charged with first-degree theft for his alleged involvement in the theft of a vehicle on the 1800 block of 14th Street, NW on March 25, 2023.
Brown and Rogers were formerly charged with robbery while armed for their alleged involvement in a robbery on the 900 block of Westminster Street, NW on March 26, 2023. Brown alone was additionally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unauthorized use of a vehicle during a crime of violence stemming from the same incident.
Brown and Rogers were formerly charged with six counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, carjacking of a senior citizen, twelve counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, six counts of robbery while armed, second-degree identity theft of a senior citizen, five counts of unauthorized use of a vehicle, and first-degree theft. Rogers alone was additionally charged with first-degree theft in connection with offenses on the same date.
The charges stem from their alleged involvement the following incidents on April 9, 2023:
- A car theft on the 5000 block of Jay Street, NE,
- A carjacking on the intersection of 11th and U Streets, NW,
- A carjacking on the 4700 block of 9th Street, NW,
- An armed robbery, on the 1100 block of U Street, NW
- An armed robbery on the intersection of H and 10th Streets, NE.
Brown and Rogers were formerly charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and two counts of robbery while armed for their alleged involvement in an armed robbery of a Walmart on the 5900 block of Georgia Avenue, NW on April 19, 2023.
Brown and Rogers were formerly charged with first-degree theft and unauthorized use of a vehicle for their alleged involvement in a stolen vehicle on the 600 block of Ingraham Street, NW on May 3, 2023.
Brown and Rogers were formerly charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and robbery while armed for their alleged involvement in an armed robbery on the 900 block of H Street, NE on May 6, 2023.
Brown and Rogers were formerly charged with conspiracy for their alleged involvement in several incidents between May 11, 2021 and May 24, 2023.
Brown and Rogers were also formerly charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle for their alleged involvement in operating a stolen vehicle between March 25, 2023 and April 7, 2023.
Brown alone was formerly charged with first-degree identity theft of a senior citizen and credit card fraud of a senior citizen for his alleged involvement in using a senior citizen’s credit card between Nov. 30, 2021 and May 24, 2023.
Parties are slated to reconvene for sentencing on Sept. 29.
