Walgreens Manager Sentenced to 12 Years for Orchestrating Inside‑Job Robberies in Chinatown
Insider breach shakes D.C.’s Chinatown and raises public safety alarms
Michael Robinson, a former manager at the Walgreens on 7th & H St NW, was sentenced on July 23, 2025, to 147 months (12¼ years) in federal prison for his role in organizing seven armed robberies at the store between July 2023 and February 2024. Robinson, along with another manager, exploited insider information to carry out the crimes with accomplices who used firearms to seize nearly $29,000 from the business, all while leveraging surveillance knowledge to stage authenticity (The Washington Post).
🧾 Scheme Breakdown
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Inside access exploited: Robinson and co-conspirator and fellow manga, er, London Teeter knew cash delivery schedules, guard shifts, and camera setups. They fed that info to Robinson’s nephew Gianni, who then relayed it to the armed robber, Kamanye Williams (Department of Justice).
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Staged authenticity: On-duty managers pretended to be robbery victims; they reviewed footage and even instructed Williams to assault Robinson to make future incidents look more real (Department of Justice).
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Violent escalation: In one February 2024 robbery, Williams was shot by a security guard after stealing over $4,000—and later stole firearms from Special Police Officers posted at the store (Department of Justice).
⚖️ Legal Fallout & Penalties
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Charges admitted: Robinson pled guilty in March to Hobbs Act conspiracy and using a firearm during a violent crime. He must pay $7,245.75 in restitution and serve five years of supervised release post-prison (Department of Justice).
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Others await sentencing: Co-defendants—including Teeter, Gianni Robinson, and Williams—are still facing sentencing proceedings (Department of Justice).
🌆 Broader Impact
The crime ring rattled Washington’s Chinatown—where local businesses, the Capital One Arena, and tourist traffic were already under stress post-pandemic. The feeling of vulnerability escalated tensions, prompting public debate about safety in the district and even a brief arena relocation threat from Monumental Sports CEO Ted Leonsis over crime concerns (The Washington Post).
🔍 SMH Takeaway: When the Enemy Lives Inside
This case is a chilling reminder: sometimes, the greatest threat comes not from outside—but from trusted insiders. A store manager turned facilitator turned thief, robbing the community while helping orchestrate violence and deception.
It’s more than a crime story—it’s a cautionary tale about trust, oversight, and the breakdown of corporate security layered inside vulnerable communities.
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