GREENBELT, Md. — Zebedee Alexander Johnson, 35, of Clinton, Maryland, pleaded guilty on June 9, 2025, to the armed robbery of a Clinton convenience store, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Kelly O. Hayes announced. The plea was joined by Acting Special Agent in Charge Amanda M. Koldjeski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Baltimore Field Office and Prince George’s County Police Department Chief Malik Aziz.
According to the guilty plea, on April 29, 2022, Johnson and four accomplices entered a convenience store in Clinton, where they pointed a firearm at an employee and ordered him to lie down. The group used a circular saw to break open the store’s ATM, stealing trays containing approximately $35,020 in U.S. currency. At the time of the robbery, Johnson was on federal supervised release following a 2018 drug-distribution conviction. Johnson admitted that committing the armed robbery violated the terms of his supervised release, which prohibit engaging in new criminal activity.
Johnson faces a minimum mandatory sentence of five years and a maximum of life in federal prison, followed by up to five years of supervised release, for the armed robbery. He also faces up to two years in prison for violating his supervised release. U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang has scheduled sentencing for September 4, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. A federal district court judge will determine the final sentence after reviewing the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors, with actual sentences typically below the maximum penalties.
The case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice to reduce violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement and communities. On May 26, 2021, the Department strengthened PSN by emphasizing community trust, violence prevention, strategic enforcement, and measurable outcomes. This prosecution reflects PSN’s focus on addressing violent crime to enhance neighborhood safety.
U.S. Attorney Hayes praised the investigative efforts of the FBI and Prince George’s County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Rosenthal and William Moomau are prosecuting the case, working to ensure accountability for Johnson’s actions.
The robbery occurred in Clinton, a community in Prince George’s County, where local law enforcement has prioritized combating violent crime. The use of a firearm and a power tool to access the ATM underscored the severity of the offense, prompting a coordinated response from federal and local authorities. Johnson’s prior conviction and supervised release status added complexity to the case, highlighting the challenges of recidivism in the criminal justice system.
The guilty plea marks a step toward justice for the affected convenience store and its employee, who faced significant danger during the robbery. The collaboration between the FBI and PGPD exemplifies the multi-agency approach central to PSN, which seeks to deter future crimes through targeted enforcement and community engagement.
