Four-Time Baltimore Felon Sentenced to 19 Years in Federal Prison for Series of Armed Robberies

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced William McFadden, age 33, of Baltimore, to 19 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for robbing a gas station in Greenbelt, Maryland, and for using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during the robbery.  McFadden pleaded guilty to those charges on July 9, 2018, just before his trial was scheduled to begin.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

According to the indictment and information presented to the Court, during October and November 2015, McFadden and two other men, either together or in pairs, robbed seven businesses in Maryland and Virginia, including five gas stations, a food store, and a check cashing store.  In each of the robberies either McFadden or one of the other men brandished a handgun and took cash from the business.  In the robbery of the food store, McFadden dropped a mask that contained both his and a co-conspirator’s DNA profile.  Furthermore, McFadden is seen on video holding a handgun that was similar to a handgun recovered from McFadden’s car after the robbery on November 22nd.

Specifically, McFadden admitted that on November 22, 2015 he drove a co-conspirator to a gas station in Greenbelt in order to rob the gas station.  The co-conspirator entered the store wearing a black jacket and a ski mask, pointed a gun at the clerk and demanded money.  The cashier placed approximately $400 in the bag provided by the co-conspirator.  McFadden and the co-conspirator drove away from the gas station and were stopped by law enforcement in Baltimore City.  Officers recovered the cash, ski mask and other identifying clothing, as well as a loaded.45-caliber automatic pistol.

McFadden is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition as a result of convictions for three previous armed robberies and another robbery.  He was also convicted of assaulting a correctional officer while in prison.

Co-defendants Marcus Cureton, age 34, and Taeqwon Prater, age 25, both of Baltimore, previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the robbery conspiracy and were each sentenced to 15 years in prison.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI for its work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia C. McLane and Lauren E. Perry, who prosecuted the case.