FALLS CHURCH, Va. (7News) — A 34-year-old D.C. man was sentenced to nine years, or 108 months, in federal prison for his participation in a multi-state, South Asian jewelry store Armed robbery ring allegedly led by a rapper named “Taliban Glizzy.”
According to U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, Robert Sheffield, also known as “Da Real Lifaa,” pleaded guilty on Feb. 20, 2025, to conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery (aka Hobbs Act robbery), and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and aiding and abetting.
After his prison term, Sheffield will serve five years of supervised release.
Before the 15-member crew was caught, they allegedly robbed at least 11 jewelry stores, netting millions of dollars in cash and terrorizing many victims.
According to his plea agreement, Sheffield admitted to being involved in the Nov. 10, 2022, Armed robbery of $1 million in cash and gold from the Baral Jewelers in Harrisburg, Pa., and for his role as the gunman during April 28, 2023 Armed robbery of Yasini Jewelers in Falls Church, Va. In that case, the store owner fired gunshots at the crew, who fired back.
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Court documents detailed how Sheffield and other crew members, allegedly led by Trevor Wright, aka rapper “Taliban Glizzy,” robbed multiple South Asian jewelry stores of heavy gold jewelry over the course of 18 months. The conspiracy began in January 2022 and continued until August 2023, when several crew members were arrested and charged.
“On Nov. 10, 2022, at around 6:30 p.m., Sheffield and several co-conspirators traveled from the District to Baral Jewelers in Harrisburg in two vehicles. After arriving, at least two co-conspirators remained in the vehicles to act as “getaway” drivers, while several others, including Sheffield, rushed into the store. Two armed co-conspirators remained in the front of Baral, a grocery area, subduing the employees and customers there as four others, including Sheffield, ran to the rear where the gold jewelry was housed,” a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s office detailed.
“As employees and customers in the front of the store cowered in terror, covering their faces or ears, a gunman held the store owner at gunpoint and took about $600 from the cash register. Meanwhile, one of the four suspects in the rear of the store used a gun to coerce an employee to the ground as Sheffield and others smashed the glass display cases and shoveled gold jewelry into large bags,” the press release continued.
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Then, a week later, a co-defendant posted an image on social media of Sheffield fanning a stack of cash. On Nov. 30, 2022, the same person then posted an Instagram story showing Sheffield buying a Rolex watch with cash at a jewelry store in Prince George’s mall. In the video, Sheffield counted out multiple $100 bills before the camera pans over the Rolex he was buying, which was appraised at $11,500.
“On April 28, 2023, Sheffield and at least five co-conspirators drove from the District to Yasini Jewelers in Falls Church, Virginia, which had been a prior target of this conspiracy in January 2022, resulting in the theft of $300,000 to $400,000 in gold jewelry. At 8 p.m., a co-defendant smashed Yasini’s storefront window with a sledgehammer. Immediately, five masked suspects ran into the store through the broken window. Among them was Sheffield, who was armed with a loaded Glock 23, 40 caliber pistol,” the press release stated.
“The Yasini store owner retrieved his own firearm and fired once. The co-conspirators fled the store before taking any jewelry. Sheffield fired two shots at the owner before running back to the getaway vehicle,” the press release noted.
On Aug. 30, 2023, Sheffield was arrested as well as other co-defendants, and their residences were searched. During the search, authorities found the firearm Sheffield used in the April 2023 robbery and recoved live rounds from his home.
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He previously served five years in prison for Armed robbery.
