[Archived] Melendez Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Home-Invasion Armed Robbery

For Immediate Release: September 30, 2019

On September 26, 2019, Andy Alexis Melendez, a 26-year old Alexandria resident, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for his role in an armed home invasion robbery and burglary. The defendant had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of Robbery, two counts of Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony, one count of Conspiracy to Commit a Felony and one count of Burglary while Armed with a Deadly Weapon.

Robbery is the taking of property from a person by force, violence or threat. Burglary is the breaking and entering of a residence with the intent to commit a crime therein.

The investigation showed that on January 8, 2018, the defendant and two co-conspirators broke into a home in the middle of the night in the Arlandria area of Alexandria. The home was occupied by a veteran of the armed forces who presently serves in the National Guard, his wife and the couple’s three-year old daughter. The victims did not know their attackers. One of the suspects who entered the home was armed with a knife and another with a firearm. The suspects threatened the victims with the weapons in order to force them to open a safe in the home. The evidence established that Mr. Melendez pointed a firearm at the three-year old child while threatening her parents. Mr. Melendez also struck one of the adult victims in the head, injuring himself in the process. Melendez bled onto the floor and his DNA profile was subsequently developed from a blood stain at the crime scene.

After the victims opened the safe, the suspects stole two firearms and personal documents. One of the firearms had been engraved to commemorate the victim’s military deployment to Afghanistan. The suspect who removed these firearms from the safe accidentally discharged one of the weapons in the home, shooting himself in the leg. The suspects then made good their escape. The stolen firearms have not been recovered.

The defendant was sentenced to a total of 58 years in the penitentiary with all but 25 years of that sentence suspended. The terms of the suspended sentence include compliance with supervised probation for 10 years upon release, remaining of good behavior for 20 years, having no contact with the victims and paying restitution and court costs. Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney David A. Lord prosecuted the case on behalf of the Commonwealth. The case was investigated by Detective Matthew Kramarik of the Alexandria Police Department.

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 Virginia Department of Corrections. There is no parole in Virginia.