Phxt CRIME TRAIL: Teens Lawrence Cotton-Powell, 19, and Anthony Taylor, 18, accused of robbing a man just minutes before brutally attacking former DOGE staffer Edward Coristine.
CRIME TRAIL: Teens Lawrence Cotton-Powell, 19, and Anthony Taylor, 18, Accused of Robbing a Man Just Minutes Before Brutally Attacking Former DOGE Staffer Edward Coristine
Authorities have revealed new details in the shocking case involving two teenagers now facing federal charges for a string of violent attacks across Washington, D.C. According to investigators, Lawrence Cotton-Powell, 19, and Anthony Taylor, 18, allegedly robbed a man near Logan Circle just minutes before they and several accomplices assaulted former DOGE staffer Edward Coristine in a separate attempted carjacking.
The earlier robbery reportedly took place only blocks away from where Coristine was later attacked. Witnesses say the suspects approached a man walking alone, demanded his belongings, and fled after a brief scuffle. Shortly afterward, the same group confronted Coristine as he escorted a woman to her car, beating him unconscious and attempting to steal the vehicle.
Federal prosecutors say the two young men were part of a larger group responsible for a series of coordinated assaults and robberies targeting residents in D.C. neighborhoods throughout the summer. The case has drawn national attention not only for its brutality but also because Coristine is a former government employee who once worked under the Trump administration.
Both Cotton-Powell and Taylor have been charged with multiple felonies, including attempted carjacking, robbery, and assault with intent to commit robbery. They are being held without bond as prosecutors move to consolidate several related cases under federal jurisdiction.
Officials describe the attacks as part of a “crime spree” that highlights growing concerns about youth violence and repeat offenders in the capital. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement that the decision to bring federal charges reflects “the gravity and pattern of the defendants’ conduct” and aims to send a clear message that violent acts will not go unpunished.
As the investigation expands, authorities are searching for additional suspects believed to have been involved in both the robbery and the carjacking attempt. Meanwhile, Coristine continues to recover from his injuries, and the incident has reignited a broader debate over public safety and criminal accountability in Washington, D.C.
