Two young men have been admitted to a series of robberies along the Metropolitan Branch Trail in a case that has been monitored by residents and law enforcement alike. Jalique Wiseman and Leon Kirksey, both from the local area, entered guilty pleas related to a string of violent thefts that terrorized trail-goers last fall. As reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia , Wiseman and Kirksey, both 20 years old, pleaded guilty to a total of six counts, split between armed robbery and robbery. The pair's criminal endeavors took place over nearly two months, from the beginning of October to late November in 2023. The crimes involved both physical violence and the use of a firearm to intimidate and rob unsuspecting victims of their possessions and sense of security.

The guilty pleas were the conclusion of diligent investigative work conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department. According to the statement released by the U.S. Attorney's Office , the August 8 sentencing date will see Wiseman and Kirksey face Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro for final judgment. Their robbery spree not only stripped victims of physical items but also involved a violation of personal privacy, as the culprits demanded the passcodes to the victims' phones to access financial accounts and transfer money to their own controlled accounts.

Wiseman was noted for wearing a distinct red, white, and blue Moncler jacket and Penny Hardaway shoes during the robberies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kraig Ahalt, the prosecutor on the case, disclosed these details in the run-up to the sentencing later this year.