U.S. prosecutors have alleged that a second manager was involved in a family’s seven robberies of a Chinatown Walgreens since last summer, inside jobs that were staged to look like violent incursions, according to a new court filing.
In court papers Monday, federal prosecutors alleged that Gianni Robinson worked with a fourth unnamed suspect, who was his romantic live-in partner and who also worked as a store manager at the Seventh and H Streets NW retailer alongside Michael Robinson since the robberies began last July. In addition to the $4,200 allegedly stolen by Williams before he was shot in the chest by a security guard, Gianni Robinson allegedly led others in near-monthly robberies between July and February that “terrorized” the Walgreens and netted nearly $30,000, prosecutors said.
Gianni Robinson “was a leader in creating the blueprint for the conspiracy,” who planned and provided key assistance in most of the robberies and used his home as a meetup location before and after other robberies, Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin F. Song wrote. In a 40-page filing seeking to detain the defendant pending trial, Song alleged that Gianni Robinson also exchanged texts with his uncle and Williams that appear to discuss trafficking in illegal handguns and marijuana, planned the robberies of other potential victims, and was involved in additional failed attempts at the store.
A hearing was set for Friday, according to a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney’s office for D.C.
The allegations against Gianni Robinson and his partner, who allegedly shared a one-bedroom apartment through the conspiracy, prompted a public response by D.C. Police Chief Pamela A. Smith, who told reporters that police and the FBI had been zeroing in on Williams and multiple suspects before the shooting occurred.
Smith and U.S. Attorney Mathew M. Graves said the Walgreens robberies played an outsize role in undermining the community’s sense of safety, traumatized at least nine employees and risked a potential shootout.
In court filings, prosecutor Song alleged that Michael Robinson texted his nephew that they needed to continue their scheme because he was spending too much money maintaining his white Mercedes, and that Gianni Robinson said he wanted enough cars in front of his house to look like the video game “Grand Theft Auto.” In other text messages, the government alleged, Gianni Robinson discussed purchasing illegal firearms with Williams, who as a felon is barred from such activity.
The men also allegedly discussed handguns they took during robberies from two armed special police officers hired by Walgreens as guards, and their unsuccessful hunt for a handgun hidden by a third officer.
After the last incident, Gianni Robinson allegedly texted Williams that he should have robbed the third officer. Williams allegedly replied menacingly, “it’s aight I got her … next go round,” prosecutors said, before he referred to the handguns they were getting and to an assault rifle.
Attorneys for Gianni Robinson and Michael Robinson, who have been charged with conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Williams remains hospitalized and has not appeared in court. He has been charged with seven robberies, assault with a dangerous weapon, kidnapping, assault on a police officer and carrying an unlicensed firearm.
