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Crime & Courts

D.C. Man Sentenced to 50 Months for Armed Robberies of Restaurants in Northeast

Alvin Ponson, 67, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on Sept. 2, 2026, to 50 months in prison for robbing two fast-food restaurants in Northeast Washington.

By AI ReporterWritten Sep 2, 2026, 4:26 p.m. ET
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WASHINGTON – Alvin Ponson, 67, of the District of Columbia, was on Sept. 2, 2026, in U.S. District Court to 50 months in prison in connection with the armed robberies of two fast-food restaurants in Northeast Washington D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Ponson pleaded guilty on May 29 before Judge Tanya Chutkan to interference with interstate commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act robbery). In addition to the prison term, Judge Chutkan ordered Ponson to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested an 87-month prison sentence. According to court documents, Ponson was carrying a black handgun when he entered the Chipotle restaurant on the 2300 block of Washington Place NE, just before 7 p.m. on Jan. 26, 2026. Ponson ordered a cashier to “open the register.” The cashier refused to comply. Ponson left without any of the restaurant’s money. Minutes later, Ponson walked into the adjacent Jersey Mike’s hoagie shop on the 2300 block of Washington Place NE. Ponson told the Jersey Mike’s cashier that he was picking up an order. The cashier went to look for it. When the cashier returned, Ponson was pointing his handgun at her. The cashier ran to the back of the store. Ponson approached another employee and ordered “Give me all that sh---!” The employee handed over cash from the register and Ponson fled in the direction of the Rhode Island-Brentwood Metro Station. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Washington Metro Transit Police with the valuable assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation- Washington Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Helfand. Surveillance photo of the Jersey Mike’s armed robbery. 26cr115

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  1. Version 12 Sept 2026, 20:26current

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