William Hunter, a 28-year-old from Washington D.C., received a federal prison sentence of 228 months for his involvement in a series of armed robberies targeting South Asian jewelry stores across multiple states. The robberies were executed by a group of 15 individuals, allegedly led by Trevor Wright, known as rapper "Taliban Glizzy." The criminal activities spanned Virginia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania over an 18-month period.
The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves alongside other law enforcement officials including ATF Special Agent Anthony A. Spotswood and FBI Assistant Director David Sundberg. Hunter had previously pleaded guilty to charges of interfering with interstate commerce by robbery and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence on September 4, 2024.
Court documents revealed that the robberies involved significant planning and coordination. The crew researched their targets beforehand and used stolen vehicles to evade detection. In some cases, they resorted to carjacking to obtain these vehicles. The method employed during the robberies included using sledgehammers to break into stores and firearms to intimidate victims.
During one such incident on September 11, 2022, Hunter was involved in carjacking at gunpoint for use in subsequent crimes. Law enforcement arrested him on March 6, 2023, where he was found with a loaded Glock handgun with an obliterated serial number.
A federal grand jury indicted Hunter along with Trevor Wright in April 2023 for the armed robbery of Paradise Jewelry Store among others. By August 17, a Superseding Indictment charged them with nine armed robberies across several states.
Hunter accepted responsibility for six specific incidents between January 2022 and January 2023 which resulted in substantial financial loss for the victims while terrorizing store owners and customers alike.
The investigation was conducted by agencies including the ATF and FBI field offices in Newark and Washington D.C., supported by local police departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sitara Witanachchi and Andrea Duvall are prosecuting the case.