[Archived] Williams Sentenced for Bank Robbery

For Immediate Release: July 14, 2017

On July 13, 2017, Deshaun Anthony Williams, a 22-year old resident of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 24 ½ years in the penitentiary for committing an armed robbery of the Wells Fargo Bank located at 330 N. Washington Street in the City of Alexandria.  Mr. Williams was also sentenced to three years of post-release supervision.

Mr. Williams was previously convicted by a jury of three counts of robbery and two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. 

The evidence showed that on November 17, 2016, Deshaun Williams was driven by his co-conspirator, Jalonte Cole, from Washington D.C. to Alexandria.  Mr. Cole, acting as the getaway driver, kept the vehicle at a nearby location, while Mr. Williams entered the bank.  Mr. Williams proceeded to pull out what appeared to be a firearm and demanded money from three of the tellers.  During the course of the robbery Mr. Williams racked the slide of the gun and pointed it at the head of one of tellers who was visibly pregnant. Mr. Williams threatened to start shooting.  Mr. Williams took over $14,000 from the bank. 

Records obtained during the investigation showed him making a large cash purchase the afternoon of the robbery at Burberry, a high-end clothing store in Washington D.C.

The getaway driver, Jalonte Cole, previously pleaded guilty to robbery and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and was sentenced to 13 years in the penitentiary with 8 years suspended, on the condition of supervised probation for 5 years, good behavior for 7 years, payment of restitution and his not returning to any Wells Fargo in the country.

This case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney David A. Lord and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Alexandria Police Department.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter said: “I would like to commend the outstanding law-enforcement co-operation in this case. Both the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Alexandria Police Department worked diligently on the matter, and put together an exceptional case. The result is an example of how federal/state cooperation should work.”

“The sentence handed down by the jury in this case is evidence that the citizens of Alexandria will not tolerate violent crimes occurring in the City.”

The defendant has remained in custody since his arrest.  He is currently incarcerated in the William G. Truesdale Alexandria Adult Detention Center pending his transfer to the Department of Corrections, where he will serve the remainder of his sentence.