Man sentenced to prison for over 10 years in a string of robberies around DC

WASHINGTON — A judge has sentenced a D.C. man to more than 10 years in prison for a string of robberies across the District. 

On Friday, Stephon Lee was sentenced to 129 months in prison, following his guilty plea on April 19. Lee pleaded guilty to two counts of armed robbery, two counts of robbery, one count of attempted armed robbery, and one count of second-degree theft. 

According to officials from the beginning of April 2023 through July 2023, Lee robbed dry cleaners, fast-food restaurants, a pharmacy, and two convenience stores. Lee would enter these establishments when there were few to no customers inside. In multiple cases, when stealing money from the business wasn't easy, Lee would resort to violence. 

On April 5, 2023, Lee entered dry cleaners along Alabama Avenue in Southeast. He pretended that he was a customer dropping off a jacket and asked the employee how much it would cost. He then swiftly moved around the counter and grabbed the employee by the back of the neck. Lee demanded the employee open the cash register, and when she wasn't moving fast enough, Lee grabbed a pair of scissors from under the counter and placed them up to her neck. The employee did as he said and opened the register. Lee grabbed the cash inside and ran away. 

On June 18, 2023, Lee ordered a sandwich at a fast food place on Riggs Road, Northeast. He told the employee he would come back to pay for the food and left. Thirty minutes later, Lee came back and stood behind a customer who was checking out. Once the employee opened the register Lee lunged across the counter, took the money out of the register and ran away.

On June 23, 2023, Lee went inside a pharmacy on Ingraham Street with a knife. Once the store employee was alone, Lee went behind the counter, pulled out his knife and told the employee to open the register. When the employee didn't move fast enough, Lee pressed the knife up against their side and threatened to stab them. The employee opened the register, and Lee took the money and ran away.

On July 10, 2023, Lee went to a food market along Fourth Street Northwest. He stole an item, and as he tried to leave, the store employee pepper sprayed him. Lee threw the item at the store employee and took out a knife. He grabbed the cash register and proceeded to slam it on the ground multiple times until it opened. Then Lee took the money out of the register and ran away. 

Lee's incarceration will be followed by five years of supervised probation.