WILMINGTON, DE — Donald Gladden, 57, a resident of New Castle, Delaware, was recently sentenced to 53 months in prison following a 10-day crime spree during which he committed a string of tobacco store robberies. The announcement was made on Monday, November 27, 2023.
At the time of these robberies, Gladden was on supervised release – a form of post-incarceration probation in the federal system – for an earlier series of robberies committed in Maryland. The Honorable Colm F. Connolly, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, pronounced the sentence, which included 12 months for the violation of Gladden’s supervised release and 41 months for the Hobbs Act robberies.
According to court documents, Gladden committed robberies on May 27, May 31, and June 5, 2022, using a fake gun that appeared to be real to obtain cash and Newport cigarettes during each incident. The total amount of cash and cigarettes taken exceeded $10,000.
U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss stated, “Mr. Gladden’s use of a fake gun to commit these violent acts does not minimize the terror his victims suffered. His sentence serves as a warning to others that my office will continue to seek stiff prison sentences for those, like Mr. Gladden, who prey upon Delaware citizens.”
Acting Special Agent in Charge Ryeshia Holley of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office reiterated that the agency remains committed to rooting out threats to the community. She noted that the citizens of Delaware can rely on the continued collaborative efforts of law enforcement partners to maintain public safety.
The case was investigated by the Delaware State Police Robbery Unit out of Troop 2 in Bear, Delaware, and the FBI’s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli H. Klein prosecuted the case. This case underscores the ongoing commitment of local and federal agencies to combat violent crimes and protect the community.
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