OCEAN CITY, MD (June 12, 2025): The Ocean City Police Department would like to update our community on a 2022 armed robbery investigation that began locally but was ultimately tied to a broader violent crime spree spanning multiple Maryland counties.
On June 15, 2022, at approximately 10:39 p.m., Ocean City officers responded to an armed robbery near 16th Street and Philadelphia Avenue. An 18-year-old male victim reported that he was approached by three individuals, briefly engaged in conversation, and then robbed at gunpoint. The suspects fled with the victim’s belongings prior to officers’ arrival.
Thanks to the City Watch surveillance system, eyewitness accounts, and the victim’s cooperation, investigators quickly identified and tracked the suspects’ movements. Stolen items were later recovered from a trashcan on the Boardwalk at 13th Street.
On June 20, 2022, the Baltimore County Police Department arrested two individuals on unrelated charges and discovered property belonging to the Ocean City robbery victim. Ocean City detectives traveled to Baltimore County, recovered the stolen items, and interviewed the suspects, identified as Takala Robinson and Jordan Moses (then a juvenile). The third suspect was later identified as a juvenile.
Both Robinson and Moses were charged with armed robbery, robbery, and first- and second-degree assault. Moses was later waived to adult status.
At the time, Ocean City police were also investigating two additional armed robberies that occurred within days of each other:
- On June 18, 2022, at approximately 10:08 p.m., a concerned citizen intervened in a suspicious situation, prompting the juvenile victim to come forward the next day. The victim reported being approached by a group, assaulted, and robbed at gunpoint before the suspects fled upon noticing the approaching witness.
- Later that night, at approximately 11:23 p.m., officers responded to a hotel near 5th Street to meet with another juvenile victim. The victim stated he had been robbed at gunpoint while walking along Washington Lane.
Through a thorough investigation and joint agency collaboration, detectives confirmed that both Robinson and Moses were involved in all three Ocean City robberies.
Subsequent investigation by the Maryland Office of the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Unit revealed that Robinson and Moses were members of a violent criminal organization linked to multiple shootings and a homicide in early June 2022. That same month, the pair traveled to Ocean City and carried out multiple armed robberies.
- On January 10, 2025, Takala Robinson, now 22, pleaded guilty to participating in a criminal organization, resulting in death, conspiracy to commit murder and armed robbery. She was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
- On May 28, 2025, Jordan Moses, now 18, pleaded guilty to the first-degree murder of 17-year-old Anthony Johnson, armed robbery, and participating in a criminal organization resulting in death. He was sentenced to life in prison, with all but 45 years suspended.
Both individuals were sentenced in Worcester County Circuit Court by the Honorable Judge Beau H. Oglesby.
The Ocean City Police Department extends its gratitude to the Maryland Office of the Attorney General, Anne Arundel County Police Department, Baltimore County Police Department, and the Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office for their critical roles in securing justice.
“This case shows the strength of interagency cooperation,” said Ocean City Police Chief Raymond Austin. “Our ability to quickly identify suspects and gather evidence locally, combined with the dedicated efforts of prosecutors and investigators across multiple jurisdictions, helped bring dangerous individuals to justice.”
Residents and visitors are reminded: If you see something suspicious or have concerns about criminal activity, contact the Ocean City Police Department. Call the Tip Line at 410-520-5136, email [email protected], or reach our non-emergency number at 410-723-6610.
###
