Serial Bank Robbers Plead Guilty in Federal Court

(Alexandria, VA) - Kenneth Ray Johnson, 44, of College Park, Maryland, and Kevin Dewaine Mobley, 46, of Beltsville, Maryland, pled guilty this week to using and brandishing firearms during the robbery of the Noblewood Plaza branch of the BB&T Bank in Woodbridge, Virginia, on April 19, 2007. Mobley also pled guilty to armed robbery in connection with the April 19 robbery, as well as the armed robbery of the M & T Bank branch located in Germantown, Maryland. Johnson also pled guilty to using and brandishing a firearm during the robbery of a Wachovia Bank branch located on Falls Road in Potomac, Maryland. Chuck Rosenberg, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Joseph Persichini, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, FBI, Washington Field Office; William D. Chase, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Baltimore Field Office; Charlie T. Deane, Chief of Police, Prince William County Police Department; David M. Rohrer, Chief of Police, Fairfax County Police Department; J. Thomas Manger, Chief of Police, Montgomery County, Maryland, Police Department; M. Douglas Scott, Chief of Police, Arlington County Police Department, made the announcement after the pleas were accepted by United States District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema.

According to the statement of facts filed in the case, Johnson and Mobley robbed several banks in Virginia and Maryland from 2004 until their arrests in June 2007. The two men stole vans to drive to and from the robberies. During the robberies, they wore masks and were armed with handguns. The two men forced bank employees and customers into the bank’s vault where they would steal money.

On September 16, 2004, the two men attempted to rob the BB&T Bank branch on Linton Hall Road, in Gainesville, Virginia, but aborted the robbery when a bank employee was unable to open the vault. On September 22, 2004, the two men robbed the Wachovia Bank branch located on Loisdale Road, in Springfield, Virginia, stealing approximately $169,328. On December 13, 2006, the two men robbed a Bank of America location on Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland, stealing approximately $246,640. On February 1, 2007, the two men

robbed an M & T Bank branch located on Middlebrook Road, in Germantown, Maryland, stealing approximately $163,399. On April 27, 2007, the two men robbed a Wachovia Bank branch located on Falls Road, in Potomac, Maryland, stealing approximately $168, 818.

This prosecution is part of the Project Safe Neighborhood initiative. Mobley is scheduled to be sentenced on April 11, 2008. Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced on April 18, 2008. Both men face maximum sentences of life in prison. Mobley faces a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison. Johnson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 32 years in prison.

This case was investigated by the Washington Field Office and the Baltimore Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Prince William County Police Department, the Fairfax County Police Department, the Montgomery County Police Department, and the Arlington County Police Department. Assistance was also provided by the FBI National Laboratory in Quantico, Virginia. Assistant United States Attorneys Morris Parker and Aaron Zebley are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.