Maryland Casino Kidnappers Plead Guilty, Face Over a Decade in Prison

Posted on: April 15, 2022, 07:04h. 

Last updated on: April 15, 2022, 11:44h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More
Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

Two Washington, DC men entered guilty pleas to a Maryland casino kidnapping, beating, and robbery the week. The name of the gaming property was never released by federal officials.

Maryland US Attorney Erek L. Barron
Maryland US Attorney Erek L. Barron, pictured above. He recently announced guilty pleas in a casino-related kidnapping. (Image: Danielle E. Gaines/Maryland Matters)

Anthony Erik Hebron, also known as “Pain,” 23, and Darius Lawrence Young, also known as “Mup,” 29, entered the pleas to a conspiracy to commit kidnapping charge. Young also plead guilty to the possession of firearms and ammunition by a felon charge.

Under a plea agreement, Young will be sentenced to between 12 and 13.5 years in prison. Hebron will be sentenced to 14 years in prison.

In February two codefendants, Christopher Young, 26, also known as “40″ and Lamar Perkins, 28 entered guilty pleas to conspiracy to commit kidnapping. Young and Perkins both lived in Washington, DC.

Money Scheme

The group of men was involved in a scheme last February. On Feb. 3, 2021, two of the men promised a would-be kidnapping victim they would arrange a date if he went with them from the casino to Washington, DC.

Once in a car, Hebron then stole his wallet, cell phone, hotel room key, and a $500 watch, prosecutors said. He allegedly had a firearm. 

The suspects also demanded the passcode for the safe in the victim’s room. When he refused, Hebron struck the victim in the forehead with the gun, prosecutors said. Eventually, the victim gave the men the passcode.

Broken Nose, Wounds

Several suspects then went back to the hotel and allegedly stole contents from the safe and the room. Among the items taken were a gaming system, $1,500 worth of casino chips, and about $6,000. The chips were from an MGM casino, officials added. It is unclear if the incident involved an MGM gaming property.

The other suspects forced the victim to a boiler room in an apartment building in Washington, DC. While there, the victim was assaulted, threatened, and they demanded the victim’s ATM pin, prosecutors said. The bandits agreed to share among themselves the proceeds from the robbery.

The victim was eventually located by police. He suffered a forehead wound, a broken nose, and mouth and eye cuts.