75-Year Sentence Handed Down in Rape Case

Baltimore, Md. (August 8, 2024) - The Special Victims Unit of the State’s Attorney’s Office secured a 75-year sentence for Ishmail Shareef, who was convicted in a bench trial on all 21 counts, including First-Degree Rape, Attempted First-Degree Rape, Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon, Conspiracy to Commit a Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon, Deadly Weapon, and False Imprisonment. 

Assistant State’s Attorneys Robert Render and Keera Gilbert prosecuted this case with support from Baltimore Police Detective John Marley and law clerks Hanna Nilles and Taylor Ward.

“The actions of this defendant are absolutely horrific and have undoubtedly caused immeasurable trauma for the victim and their family,” said State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates. “I want to thank ASAs Robert Render and Keera Gilbert for their skillful prosecution of this case and Victim Witness Advocate Aida Alajbegovic for providing the critical support needed to guide the survivor through the difficult trial experience. Under my administration, our office will be guided by the needs of victims in Baltimore, their trauma, and how we can ensure justice and accountability for them.”

On Friday, October 14, 2022, Baltimore Police responded to a Dunkin Donuts restaurant on E. 33rd Street for a call of service. Upon arrival, police located a female employee suffering from a puncture wound to her right arm. During the course of the investigation, it was revealed that the woman was working at the Dunkin Donuts restaurant when two male suspects entered the business and began to wander around the interior of the customer area. After serving the last customer in line, the woman stated that she started doing her store duties when the lights turned off. She later noted that the light switch is hidden, and only employees know where it is.

The woman then observed both male suspects jump over the service counter. The male suspects grabbed her and began to assault her physically. Both men then dragged her across the floor and forced her into the freezer. The first suspect then entered the freezer with the woman. Once inside the freezer, that suspect ordered the woman to pull down her pants. When she refused, the suspect displayed a knife and stabbed her in the right arm. The suspect then began to assault the woman sexually. While this occurred, the second suspect went to the store’s stock room and removed a blue bag containing $250 from a shelf. The second suspect then walked to the cash register and successfully opened the cash drawer, where they removed approximately $250 before returning to the freezer. He went inside the freezer, stayed for a short period of time, and then came back out. He waited outside for a few minutes and then re-entered the freezer. After another short period of time, both men exited the freezer. The man who entered the freezer with the woman was pulling up his pants as he walked out. Both men then left the building, fleeing in an unknown direction.

The woman was subsequently transported to Union Memorial Hospital for further medical treatment and a Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE). The restaurant is equipped with security cameras, which captured the incident. Upon review of the security camera video footage, both suspects were able to be identified as former employees of the Dunkin Donuts. Further investigation revealed video footage of the two men from traffic light cameras, speed cameras, residential ring videos, and apartment building security videos showing the men walking to the Dunkin Donuts, waiting outside, and returning along the same route.

BPD detectives subsequently interviewed the suspect who stole the money from the store, and he fully confessed to his planning and involvement in the attack. He identified the victim’s attacker in the freezer as Ishmail Shareef. He said that he and Mr. Shareef planned the robbery for a time when they knew that the woman would be the only employee in the store and stated that he knew that Mr. Shareef planned to force the woman into the freezer and that he would hurt her, but that he did not know that he would rape her. The suspect stated that he helped Mr. Shareef force the woman into the freezer and that, after he left the freezer and the door was closed behind him, he saw Mr. Shareef pull down his pants through the window in the freezer door.

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