Waldorf, Md. — Charles County Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested five suspects, ages 15 to 21, in a series of armed robberies that struck the Waldorf area last month, targeting victims for designer clothing and personal property. The holdups, which unfolded between September 19 and September 24, 2025, involved assailants displaying firearms to seize high-end apparel and other belongings from those approached on the street.
The Robbery Unit launched probes into the citizen reports, uncovering a pattern where suspects zeroed in on individuals based on visible luxury items. On October 7, 2025, investigators executed six search warrants at Waldorf homes, leading to the detention of three juveniles — two 16-year-olds and one 17-year-old — who face adult charges. Authorities recovered evidence tying them to the crimes during the sweeps. Two days later, on October 9, deputies apprehended 21-year-old Kyjuan Marquie Guffey of Waldorf in La Plata on a related warrant.
A fifth suspect, a 15-year-old male, surfaced during a separate traffic stop in Oxon Hill by Prince George’s County officers. The teen possessed a 9mm handgun reported stolen to Charles County authorities in July 2025. He remains in Department of Juvenile Services custody.
Each of the five faces counts of armed robbery, first-degree assault, firearm use in a violent felony, and theft. Under Maryland law, armed robbery qualifies as a violent felony with a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. First-degree assault, involving serious injury or a deadly weapon, carries up to 25 years. Firearm enhancements add mandatory minimums, often five years without parole for first offenses. Theft penalties hinge on item values, escalating from misdemeanors for under $1,000 to felonies above that threshold.
Detectives continue sifting leads to determine if the group connects to other thefts in the region. Residents with details should reach Detective Wimberly at 301-609-6491. Anonymous tips go to Charles County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS, online at www.charlescountycrimesolvers.com, or via the P3Intel app.
These arrests cap a flurry of similar incidents in Waldorf, where robbers have fixated on name-brand sneakers and jackets since early 2025. Just days before the September spate, on September 21, 2025, suspects held up multiple juveniles at gunpoint in the 11800 block of Edmont Place, making off with designer tennis shoes valued at several hundred dollars each. Charles County Crime Solvers posted a $1,000 reward for tips in those cases, highlighting a possible thread to the later robberies. Earlier that year, in January 2025, deputies noted a regional uptick in such targeted thefts, including a March 23 case where thieves grabbed $40,000 in goods from one victim.
Maryland’s handling of youth offenders underscores the cases’ gravity. State code allows charging 16-year-olds and older as adults for armed robbery, carjacking, or related felonies, bypassing juvenile court for harsher penalties. The two 16-year-olds and 17-year-old here fell under that provision, landing in adult proceedings despite their ages. The 15-year-old, below the threshold for most violent transfers, routes through juvenile systems focused on rehabilitation over incarceration. Lawmakers revisited these rules in February 2025, debating limits on automatic adult placements to curb long-term impacts on teens, though no changes passed. Critics point to higher recidivism in adult facilities, while proponents cite public safety in gun-involved crimes.
