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Jurors Find Missed Cash and Suspected Drugs in Clothing During D.C. Robbery Trial

The discovery exposed gaps in evidence screening and prompted a judge’s public rebuke while raising the prospect of legal challenges and institutional review.

The E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse, for the US District Court and US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, is seen in Washington, DC, November 3, 2025.
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US District Judge Rudolph Contreras listens during a ceremony on April 13, 2018 at the US District Court in Washington, DC.
During the criminal trial of Shamell Naquan Joyner, jurors in Washington, DC, discovered a suspected packet of drugs and a Chinese yuan banknote hidden inside clothing that had already been admitted into evidence.

Overview

  • Jurors examining exhibit clothing during deliberations on July 22 discovered a crumpled Chinese yuan bill and a folded paper containing a white powdery substance that had not been identified by investigators or lawyers.
  • U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras individually questioned each juror, told them to ignore the items as evidence, and later wrote that he shared the defendant’s amazement at how the items were missed.
  • The jury returned a partial verdict after about a week of deliberations, finding Shamell Naquan Joyner guilty on 13 counts and deadlocking on 15 others, with prosecutors saying the convictions trigger a 31-year mandatory minimum sentence.
  • Both garments were connected to two May 2 incidents and were recovered from the Toyota the government says Joyner stole, and prosecutors noted trial testimony about money and narcotics that helps explain jurors’ attention to the items.
  • The FBI declined to comment on how the items were missed, the U.S. Attorney’s Office did not fully explain the oversight, sentencing has not been set, and the lapse could prompt agency reviews and form the basis for future defense motions or appeals.