Man Convicted in College Park Poker Game Robbery

A 24-year-old Gaithersburg man, was sentenced to 60 years in prison for robbing nine people at a College Park in 2011, according to Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Angela D. Alsobrooks.

Sergio Hernandez was convicted of taking cell phones, cash and other electronics from people who were attending a poker game, according to The Gazette.

The August 2011 robbery took place at an apartment complex near the College Park Ikea.

“When our victims and witnesses come forward, it can have a tremendous impact on the outcome of our cases,” said Alsobrooks. “This case demonstrated how much the criminal justice system relies on victims and witnesses. When people come forward, our process is strengthened.”  

Hernandez was convicted of 52 counts of theft, robbery, robbery with a deadly weapon, assault in the first and second degree and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence.

More than 15 witnesses, some of them victims, showed up in court to testify against Hernandez, according to Alsobrooks.

According to the state's attorney's office, three other people were involved in the robbery. Two pled guilty prior to Hernandez' trial and the fourth suspect remains unidentified and the investigation into that suspect is ongoing, the report states.

Editor's Note: This story originally said Hernandez was accused of robbing a party. That information was taken from a press release from the state's attorney's office, however, other media reports say the event was actually a poker game.