Two men from Waldorf, Maryland have been found guilty of a series of violent crimes, including armed robbery, carjacking, and murder.
After a 9-day federal trial, Thaddeus Lamont Wills, 51, and Keionta Shawn Hagens, 44, were convicted on multiple charges stemming from a crime spree that spanned from November 2020 to January 2021.
The crime spree began in November 2020, when Wills and Hagens, along with other conspirators, robbed a business and a customer at gunpoint. They stole cash, merchandise, and personal belongings before carjacking the customer to make their escape.
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Just days later, the pair, armed with at least one firearm, targeted another business. They robbed an employee and a customer, tying up the employee during the robbery. To further their criminal enterprise, they used stolen vehicles, including a Ford F-150 pickup truck, which they concealed in Brandywine, Maryland.
The violence escalated in January 2021. Wills and his accomplices carjacked a Honda Pilot in Waldorf, Maryland, and drove it to Virginia. There, they committed another armed robbery at a business in Woodbridge, stealing cash, merchandise, and personal property from customers and employees. Upon returning to Maryland, they burned the stolen Honda Pilot.
The crime spree culminated in a tragic murder on January 18, 2021. Wills and Hagens robbed a business owner at gunpoint, ultimately shooting and killing him during the robbery. Wills then carjacked another individual to escape the scene.
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Wills faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for the murder charge and a mandatory minimum of seven years for each count of using a firearm during a crime of violence. Hagens also faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of life for his role in the crimes. Sentencing for both men is scheduled for February 2024.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative that brings together law enforcement and communities to reduce violent crime. U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the collaborative efforts of the FBI, Prince George’s County Police Department, Charles County Sheriff’s Office, and Prince William County, Virginia Police Department for their work in the investigation.
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