Armed robbery at jersey mike’s ends with guilty plea from d. C. Man

Washington, D.C. — A 67-year-old District man has pleaded guilty to a federal robbery charge after prosecutors said he brandished a handgun inside a Jersey Mike’s restaurant and stole cash from employees following an attempted robbery at a neighboring Chipotle minutes earlier.

Alvin Ponson, 67, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty Friday in U.S. District Court to interference with interstate commerce by robbery, commonly known as a Hobbs Act robbery, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan accepted the plea and scheduled sentencing for Sept. 2, 2026.

Attempted Chipotle Robbery Failed

According to court documents, the incident began shortly before 7 p.m. on Jan. 26, 2026, when Ponson entered a Chipotle restaurant in the 2300 block of Washington Place NE carrying a black handgun.

Prosecutors said Ponson approached a cashier and ordered the employee to “open the register.”

The cashier refused to comply, and Ponson left the restaurant without obtaining any money.

Jersey Mike’s Employee Faced Gunpoint Moments Later

Minutes after leaving Chipotle, Ponson allegedly entered the adjacent Jersey Mike’s location on the same block.

According to the complaint, Ponson initially told an employee he was there to pick up an order.

When the cashier went to retrieve the order and returned, prosecutors said Ponson was pointing a handgun at her.

The employee ran to the back of the restaurant.

Ponson then approached another worker and demanded money.

“Give me all that sh—!” Ponson allegedly told the employee.

The employee handed over cash from the register, and Ponson fled the area.

Authorities said he ran toward the Rhode Island-Brentwood Metro Station after the robbery.

Key Points

• Alvin Ponson pleaded guilty to a federal robbery charge.
• Prosecutors say he robbed a Jersey Mike’s after attempting to rob a nearby Chipotle.
• Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 2, 2026.

Multiple Agencies Assisted Investigation

The case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Washington Metro Transit Police Department.

The agencies received assistance from the FBI Washington Field Office during the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Helfand is prosecuting the case.

Sentencing Scheduled for September

By pleading guilty, Ponson admitted responsibility for the robbery offense stemming from the January incident.

He now faces sentencing before Judge Chutkan in September, when the court will determine his punishment under federal sentencing guidelines and applicable law.

Ponson remains awaiting sentencing after entering his guilty plea Friday in federal court.

Armed Robbery

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