SUSPECT ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH QUEEN ANNE’S CO. JEWELRY STORE ROBBERY

(QUEENSTOWN, MD) -- Maryland State Police and the FBI have arrested and charged a Prince George’s County man in connection with a Queen Anne’s County jewelry store robbery last spring during which hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of jewelry was stolen.

The accused is identified as Roy L. Tolbert, 42, of Suitland, Md. After consultation with the Queen Anne’s County State’s Attorney’s Office, he has been charged with state charges that include armed robbery, robbery, theft over $100,000, first degree assault, and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony. After an initial appearance before a court commissioner, Tolbert was held in the Prince George’s County Detention Center without bail. Federal charges may also be pending against Tolbert.

The arrest and charges are the result of an investigation that began about 8:00 p.m. on May 19, 2013, when a suspect entered the Ultra Diamonds jewelry store, in the 100-block of Outlet Center Drive, Queenstown, Md. The suspect displayed a handgun and stole dozens of pieces of jewelry from the store. The suspect was described as wearing a disguise that included a wig, fake beard, sunglasses and a ball cap. He was seen fleeing the area on a sport motorcycle, which was later found and determined to be stolen from Washington, D.C. The stolen jewelry was valued at more than $300,000. No one was injured during the robbery.

The investigation by the Maryland State Police Criminal Enforcement Division investigators began immediately. They were joined in the investigation by special agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Evidence developed during the investigation led to the identification of Tolbert as a suspect. Investigators obtained search warrants that were served on October 18, 2013, in Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties by State Police investigators and special agents from the FBI. No weapons or jewelry were recovered during the service of the search warrants.

One of the search warrants was served at Tolbert’s home. He was not home at the time. Troopers from the Maryland State Police State Apprehension Team eventually made contact with Tolbert and convinced him to turn himself in. Tolbert surrendered to State Police at the Forestville Barrack at about 3:00 p.m. on October 18th.

In addition to the FBI, Maryland State Police investigators received significant assistance from law enforcement agencies that included , the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Postal Inspector's Service, U.S. Attorney General's Office, Prince George's County Police Department, Anne Arundel County Police Department, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, the Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center, the Eastern Shore Information Center, Maryland State Police State Apprehension Team, Maryland State Police K-9, and the Maryland State Police Field Operations Bureau.

The investigation is continuing.