39-year-old David Jerome Walker of Washington, DC. (LEFT) 33-year-old Jeff Crews of Washington, DC (middle) and 34-year-old Maurice Roots of Washington, DC (right)
UPDATE 5/12/2026: A 27-count Indictment was unsealed today in U.S. District Court charging four men in connection with a conspiracy that used the “Jaws of Life” to commit robberies of convenience store ATMs in Maryland and the District, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
- Jeff Crews, 35
- David Walker, 40
- Maurice Roots, 35
- Kevin Bing, 31
All four being residents of the District of Columbia – are charged with Conspiracy to Interfere with Commerce by Robbery (Hobbs Act Robbery) and an array of other counts relating to stolen vehicles.
“Violent, organized crews who treat our neighborhoods as targets and use rescue tools designed to save lives to instead tear open ATMs and terrorize businesses will be met with relentless prosecution,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This indictment reflects a sustained law enforcement effort to dismantle a coordinated robbery ring that endangered employees, destroyed property, and repeatedly struck communities across Maryland and the District of Columbia.”
According to the Indictment, the conspiracy operated during the first three months of 2025. Members of the conspiracy acquired a “Jaws of Life” – the powerful hydraulic rescue tool typically used by first responders to extract victims from the wreckage of car crashes – and used it to tear open automated teller machines and steal the cash inside them.
The men acquired stolen vehicles, wore masks, and executed most of the robberies during the early-morning hours. They would meet at a predetermined location, transfer their robbery tools into the robbery vehicle, and drive to the targeted convenience store. After arriving at the convenience store, members divided up tasks. One member sometimes remained in the vehicle as a getaway driver. At least one other member was tasked with subduing the store employees, as another attempted to destroy the store’s surveillance video and network equipment. Another used the “Jaws of Life” tool or other levering tool to rip open the ATM and remove its cassettes containing the cash.
On Jan. 3, 2025, members of the conspiracy robbed an ATM on the 9900 block of Greenbelt Road, Lanham.
On Jan. 4, 2025, members of the conspiracy robbed stores on the 6000 block of Sandy Spring Road, in Laurel, and the 900 block of Chillum Road, Hyattsville.
On Jan. 7, 2025, members robbed a store on the 7700 block of Crain Highway, Upper Marlboro.
On Jan. 8, 2025, members of the conspiracy attempted to rob an ATM on Route 3 in Gambrills.
On Jan. 12, 2025, members of the conspiracy ignited and burned a black Lexus sedan, which had been used to facilitate a robbery.
On Jan. 22, 2025, members robbed an ATM in a store on the 7400 block of Annapolis Road, Hyattsville.
On Jan. 29, 2025, members robbed a store on the 11000 block of Cherry Hill Road, Beltsville, and robbed an ATM inside a store on the unit block of Watkins Park Drive, Upper Marlboro.
On Feb. 1, 2025, members robbed an ATM within a store on the 7900 block of Good Luck Road, Lanham.
On Feb. 6, 2025, members robbed an ATM on the 6100 block of Oxon Hill Road, Oxon Hill.
On Feb. 19, 2025, members robbed an ATM in a store on the 11000 block of Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville,
On Feb. 22, 2025, members robbed an ATM in a store on the 9400 block of Lanham Severn Road, Lanham.
On Feb. 28, 2025, members robbed an ATM on the 1000 block of Crain Hwy N, Gambrills, and robbed another ATM on the 600 block of University Boulevard, Silver Spring.
On March 11, 2025, members robbed a store on the 6500 block of Coventry Way, Clinton, and struck another ATM the same day on the 8900 block of Rhode Island Avenue, College Park.
On March 19, 2025, members of the conspiracy attempted to rob an ATM at a store on the 9500 block of Ruby Lockhart Boulevard, Bowie, before they robbed an ATM on the 5200 block of 3rd St. NE, Washington D.C. Later that day, members burned a silver Lexus sedan which had been used to facilitate a robbery.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office, the Prince George’s County Police Department, the Montgomery County Police Department, the Anne Arundel County Police Department, the Greenbelt Police Department, and the Metropolitan Police Department.
This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Levy for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
UPDATE 5/12/2025: Criminal Indictments have been filed for Jeff Allen Crews, age 33 of Washington D.C., and Maurice Antwan Roots age 34 of Washington D.C.
Roots has been charged with Robbery, Conspiracy-Robbery, and Assault 2nd Degree.
Crews is charged with the following.
- Armed Robbery (Felony) – 1 count
- Conspiracy-Armed Robbery (Misdemeanor) – 1 count
- Conspiracy-Robbery (Misdemeanor) – 5 counts
- Robbery (Felony) – 6 counts
- Assault First Degree (felony) – 1 count
- Assault Second Degree (Misdemeanor) – 7 counts
Following an extensive investigation, the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Robbery Unit identified and charged three men in connection with multiple ATM robberies in the county since late January of 2025.
The suspects are 34-year-old Maurice Roots of Washington, DC, 33-year-old Jeff Crews of Washington, DC, and 39-year-old David Jerome Walker of Washington, DC.
This months’ long investigation led by the PGPD Robbery Unit also included assistance from detectives assigned to the Carjacking Interdiction Unit, Washington Area Vehicle Enforcement Team and Narcotic Enforcement Division.
On March 19, 2025, the PGPD’s Fugitive Unit located and arrested Roots in the Clinton area. With the assistance of the Metropolitan Police Department, Crews and Walker were also arrested on March 19, 2025, in Washington, DC.
MPDC officers served multiple search warrants on the suspects’ residences, resulting in the recovery of cash and firearms. Additional evidence was also recovered including multiple vehicles.
PGPD Robbery Unit detectives have charged Crews and Walker for a string of five ATM robberies and one attempted robbery at convenience stores beginning on January 29, 2025, through February 22, 2025.
Roots is currently charged in connection with the robbery on February 22, 2025. Additional charges against all three suspects are pending. They are suspected in additional ATM robberies.
The investigation revealed the suspects targeted ATMs at businesses across the county. In the five completed robberies, the suspects used hydraulic rescue tools, commonly called the “jaws of life” and a Halligan bar, to break into the machines and steal tens of thousands of dollars in cash.
Detectives estimate that approximately $200,000 was stolen during these robberies.
The robberies linked to Crews and Walker:
January 29, 2025:
- 7-Eleven in the 1400 block of Cherry Hill Road in Beltsville
- 7-Eleven in the hundred block of Watkins Park Drive in Upper Marlboro
February 1, 2025:
- 7-Eleven in the 7900 block of Good Luck Road in Lanham
February 6, 2025:
- 7-Eleven in the 6100 block of Oxon Hill Road in Oxon Hill
February 19, 2025:
- 7-Eleven in the 11300 block of Baltimore Avenue in Beltsville
The robbery linked to Crews, Walker and Roots:
February 22, 2025:
- 7-Eleven in the 9400 block of Lanham Severn Road in Lanham
39-year-old David Jerome Walker of Washington, DC.
33-year-old Jeff Crews of Washington, DC,
34-year-old Maurice Roots of Washington, DC
