FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. – Three brothers have been sentenced to lengthy federal prison terms for their roles in a string of armed robberies across the D.C. area, including two incidents in Fairfax County. The final sentencing came last Thursday (Aug. 7), marking the end of a violent crime spree that stretched over several months.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, 41-year-old Andre Joel White Jr. was the last of the trio to be sentenced. He received 10-and-a-half years in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges that included brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence and conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery.
Robbery Spree Across Virginia and Maryland
Court records and FBI affidavits show that from September 2023 to February 2024, the brothers — Andre White Jr., Aaron White, and Abdullah Michelle — committed armed robberies at seven different stores in Virginia and Maryland.
Two of those robberies targeted tobacco shops in Fairfax County:
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Bailey’s Crossroads – Tobacco Mart (Dec. 4, 2023): The brothers entered the store just before 11 p.m., confronting an employee who was counting money before closing. Armed with a handgun, they demanded cash from the register, taking about $700. When the employee couldn’t open the safe, two of the suspects stole approximately 150 cartons of Newport cigarettes valued at $12,500, along with the employee’s phone.
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Hybla Valley – Tobacco Bazaar (Jan. 28, 2024): Two of the brothers entered around 8:45 p.m., armed with a handgun and what appeared to be a baton or small baseball bat. They stole $220 from the register, a safe containing roughly $3,000, and at least 25 cartons of Newport cigarettes worth around $2,000.
Other Crimes and Arrests
The court documents also reference an armed vehicle robbery in D.C., which was later used in the Bailey’s Crossroads heist. However, none of the brothers received specific penalties for that incident.
Following their arrests, all three pleaded guilty to multiple charges.
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Abdullah Michelle – Sentenced to 21 years in federal prison on July 2, 2025
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Aaron White – Sentenced to 14 years on June 18, 2025
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Andre White Jr. – Sentenced to 10.5 years on Aug. 7, 2025, after pleading guilty on Dec. 18, 2024
Prosecutors’ Statement
Federal prosecutors emphasized that the brothers’ coordinated actions involved significant violence and intimidation, often threatening employees with firearms while stealing large quantities of high-value merchandise. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said the sentences reflect the severity of the crimes and the danger posed to the community.
All three men will serve their sentences in federal prison without the possibility of parole.
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