D.C. Man Pleads Guilty in Armed Robbery of a Jersey Mike’s

WASHINGTON - Alvin Ponson, 67, of the District of Columbia, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with the armed robberies of two fast-food restaurants in Northeast Washington D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

Ponson pleaded guilty before Judge Tanya Chutkan to interference with interstate commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act). Judge Chutkan scheduled sentencing for Sept. 2, 2026.

According to the complaint, Ponson was carrying a black handgun when he entered the Chipotle restaurant on the 2300 block of Washington Place NE, just before 7 p.m. on Jan. 26, 2026. Ponson ordered a cashier to "open the register." The cashier refused to comply. Ponson then walked away without any of the restaurant's money.

Minutes later, Ponson walked into the adjacent Jersey Mike's hoagie shop on the 2300 block of Washington Place NE. Ponson told the Jersey Mike's cashier that he was picking up an order. The cashier went to look for the order. When the cashier returned, Ponson was pointing his handgun at her. The cashier ran to the back of the store. Ponson approached another employee and ordered "Give me all that sh---!" The employee handed over cash from the register and Ponson fled in the direction of the Rhode Island-Brentwood Metro Station.

This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Washington Metro Transit Police with the valuable assistance of theFederal Bureau of Investigation- Washington Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Helfand.

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