Two Maryland men convicted of robbery, carjacking and murder following violent crimes

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GREENBELT, MD – Thaddeus Lamont Wills, 51, and Keionta Shawn Hagens, 44, both of Waldorf, Maryland, were convicted Friday, October 25, 2024, of a series of violent crimes, including armed robbery, carjacking and murder. The convictions came after a nine-day federal trial in which a jury found the men guilty of conspiracy, using and brandishing firearms and murdering a business owner during their crime spree.

According to the evidence presented, Wills and Hagens, along with other conspirators, committed a series of armed robberies between November 2020 and January 2021. On November 12, 2020, they held up a business and carjacked a Dodge Ram pickup. Days later, on November 17, 2020, they robbed another business in a stolen Ford F-150, held an employee and confiscated cash and merchandise at gunpoint.

The crime escalated on January 6, 2021, when Wills and other conspirators carjacked a 2008 Honda Pilot in Waldorf, Maryland. The next day, they crossed the state line into Virginia, where they robbed customers and employees of another business in Woodbridge. After returning to Maryland, the stolen vehicle was burned to destroy evidence.

Tragically, on January 18, 2021, Wills and Hagens robbed a business owner at gunpoint, stole merchandise and fatally shot the victim. They then carjacked a 2019 Lexus RX350 to escape.

Wills faces life in prison for the murder as well as multiple prison terms for armed robbery, car theft and firearms offenses. Hagens also faces a significant prison sentence for his involvement, including a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a life sentence in federal prison. The convictions were announced by U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron and law enforcement officials from Maryland and Virginia, who coordinated the investigation.