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Federal prosecutors have charged two additional teenagers in connection with the August assault of a Department of Government Efficiency staffer in the nation’s capital in an attack that spurred a broader crackdown on youth crime.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced the charges Monday, identifying the suspects as Lawrence Cotton-Powell, 19, and Anthony Taylor, 18. Both face counts of robbery, assault and attempted carjacking related to the attack on Edward Coristine, a DOGE staffer known by the nickname “Big Balls,” and another victim.
Pirro said the pair had also been involved in a separate mugging earlier that evening, targeting a man named Ethan Levine. She described both suspects as repeat offenders who should have already been in custody.
“Lawrence Cotton-Powell is 19 years of age. He is now charged with robbery, first-degree robbery for which he faces 15 years in prison. He also faces a charge of assault with intent to commit robbery, another 15 years, and robbery for Edward Coristine, 15 years, assault with intent to commit robbery, another 15 years, and attempted carjacking, five years,” Pirro said.
She criticized local judges for repeatedly granting probation despite her office’s requests for incarceration, saying the system had given Cotton-Powell multiple chances that ended with new offenses.
“The codefendant in this case is an individual by the name of Anthony Taylor. He — charged also with the same arrest — he is fraught with the same crimes,” she added.
The August attack left Coristine bloodied after he reportedly intervened to protect a woman during the confrontation. The incident prompted President Donald Trump to intensify federal crime-reduction efforts, deploying National Guard troops to several high-crime cities, including Washington and Memphis.
Earlier this fall, two 15-year-olds involved in the same attack were sentenced to probation, a decision sharply criticized by Pirro and Trump. The president called the outcome “terrible” and said, “I think the judge should be ashamed of himself,” arguing that lenient sentencing only encourages more youth violence.
Both teens remain in federal custody pending court appearances later this month.