Robert Sheffield, a 34-year-old man from the District of Columbia, has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison for his part in a string of violent robberies targeting South Asian jewelry stores. In a report from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, Sheffield, who goes by “Da Real Lifaa,” entered a guilty plea to charges of Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy and possessing a firearm during a violent crime.
The series of heists, sprawled across multiple states, involved a crew of 15, allegedly led by Trevor Wright, also known as the rapper “Taliban Glizzy.” During these robberies, Sheffield and his cohorts managed to obtain millions in cash and gold. As noted in the plea agreement, Sheffield admitted to his direct involvement in the armed robberies, one occurring on Nov. 10, 2023, at Baral Jewelers in Harrisburg, Pa., and another at Yasini Jewelers in Falls Church, Va., on April 28, 2023. Judge Christopher R. Cooper, who handed down the sentence, has also mandated a subsequent five years of supervised release once Sheffield concludes his prison term. the U.S. Attorney’s Office reported.
Federal prosecutors have detailed the crew’s modus operandi, revealing a calculated approach that preyed specifically on heavy gold jewelry known for its high purity. The crew’s criminal activities commenced in January 2022 and continued until August 2023, at which point arrests began. According to court documents, the Nov. 10, 2022, theft at Baral Jewelers involved Sheffield alongside other accomplices who subdued employees and customers at gunpoint, while others smashed and grabbed gold items. In the aftermath, social media posts flaunted the spoils; one co-defendant shared an image of Sheffield with a cash stack, and another showcased a pricey Rolex purchase…