Former MPD Officer Sentenced to 15 Years for Murder and Robbery Conspiracy

Reginald Levester Jones, a 42-year-old former Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role in a robbery conspiracy that led to the murder of one of the alleged participants. Jones, who pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit robbery and second-degree murder, had agreed to cooperate with the government and testify against his longtime friend and co-defendant, Raylen Wilkerson, 35. However, the government ultimately could not sponsor him due to issues with his veracity.

Key Takeaways:

• Jones was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role in a robbery conspiracy that led to the murder of one of the alleged participants.
• Jones had agreed to cooperate with the government and testify against his co-defendant, Raylen Wilkerson, but the government ultimately could not sponsor him due to issues with his veracity.
• The government's evidence showed that Jones, Wilkerson, and four other men had met on November 30, 2009, and agreed to a plan to rob a man, which resulted in a shooting and the killing of one of the conspirators.
• Jones parked his marked police cruiser near the scene of the robbery to act as a lookout, and he and Wilkerson fled the scene in the squad car after the robbery went awry.
• Jones used his position as an MPD officer to facilitate the robbery and assist his co-conspirators.
• Wilkerson was sentenced to 21 years in prison for his role in the conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and tampering with evidence.
• The case was investigated by the MPD and the U.S. Attorney's Office, with assistance from Intelligence Analyst Lawrence Grasso and other staff members.

Statistics:

• Jones was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
• Wilkerson was sentenced to 21 years in prison for his role in the conspiracy.
• Arvel Crawford, who killed his own father during the robbery, was sentenced to 18 years in prison.
• Roshun Parker and Jarvis Clark, two other co-defendants, were sentenced to three years in prison and time served, respectively.
• The robbery attempt resulted in the shooting and killing of one of the conspirators.
• The case involved the theft of property, resulting in a total loss to victims.

Sources:

• Statement of U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. and Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department.
• Press release from the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, October 21.
• Statement from U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. and Chief Cathy L. Lanier.