Fairfax DA Steve Descano

The court cannot bring Joe back to his loved ones, but the court can ensure that Brendan, the mastermind behind this scheme, faces a lifetime in prison for his murder.

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Statement from CA Descano: “People all over the world who watched this trial saw that Juliana’s testimony was invaluable in helping the jury understand the convoluted double-murder plot orchestrated by Brendan Banfield. No prison sentence can address the harm created by her actions. Today’s hearing was dedicated specifically to Joe, a beloved son, nephew, and grandson, who was a perfect stranger to Magalhaes and Brendan Banfield and tragically ensnared in their plot. The court cannot bring Joe back to his loved ones, but the court can ensure that Brendan, the mastermind behind this scheme, faces a lifetime in prison for his murder.”

Today’s hearing was dedicated specifically to Joe, a beloved son, nephew, and grandson, who was a perfect stranger to Magalhaes and Brendan Banfield and tragically ensnared in their plot.

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STATEMENT FROM CA DESCANO ON JULIANA PERES MAGALHAES’ SENTENCE Banfield au pair sentenced for her role in the double-murder plot Fairfax, VA – Today, Juliana Peres Magalhaes, 25, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting and killing Joseph Ryan, 39, on February 24, 2023. Magalhaes was an au pair for Brendan and Christine Banfield in Reston, Virginia, at the time of the murder, and she and Brendan, who had begun a romantic affair, hatched an elaborate plot to kill Christine. Together, Magalhaes and Brendan Banfield lured Joe, a stranger, to the house and staged a situation to make it appear as though Joe was an intruder who had killed Christine. Magalhaes pled guilty to manslaughter on October 29, 2024, in exchange for her cooperation with the prosecution at Brendan Banfield’s trial. Magalhaes is a Brazilian national and will be deported at the conclusion of her sentence. Brendan Banfield, 40, was convicted by a jury of two counts of aggravated murder, use of a firearm in commission of a felony, and child endangerment. His sentencing hearing is set for May 8, 2026, where he faces a mandatory life sentence.

People all over the world who watched this trial saw that Juliana’s testimony was invaluable in helping the jury understand the convoluted double-murder plot orchestrated by Brendan Banfield.

No prison sentence can address the harm created by her actions.

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Virginia lawmakers consider bill to revise petitioner provision of red flag law The bill would allow family members and medical providers to request emergency orders to temporarily confiscate firearms.

Red flag laws are the only proactive tool prosecutors have to build public safety & potentially prevent a tragedy before it happens.

By removing barriers to individuals getting the help they need, we keep our communities safer.

virginiaindependentnews.com/politics/ass...

(Cont’d)

I am extremely proud that we let the evidence speak for itself—and that the community knows with certainty who is responsible for the deaths of Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan.

Minnesota prosecutors face uphill battle if they charge feds in fatal shootings Virginia attempted to prosecute federal officers who killed a man in 2017. It didn’t work.

Prosecuting federal agents can be a difficult process. I know that first-hand. But it’s our obligation to hold them accountable.

Hey, federal officials: If you breach state law, you have to answer to state authorities.

www.politico.com/news/2026/01...

Fight Against Federal Overreach The Fight Against Federal Overreach (FAFO) is a national coalition of District Attorneys collaborating to ensure federal officials are held accountable when they exceed their lawful authority.

Find out more about the project at the link below.

federaloverreach.org

The federal government thinks they’re above the law.

Enough.

Today, we’re founding the Project for the Fight Against Federal Overreach (FAFO) to hold federal officials accountable for abuse of power.

At trial, prosecutors showed security camera videos of the attempted robbery where Lark could be seen holding Mr. Alexander at gunpoint—a fact that Lark confirmed when he took the stand. In the video, they move out of frame before Lark fired the fatal shot, which was audible in one of the videos. Additional evidence, including blood found on the stolen Murano, cell phone location data, and text messages, allowed prosecutors to map out Lark’s movements leading up to and after the murder. “Nelson Alexander didn’t know the defendant, he didn’t do anything wrong, and he was just going about his day as usual,” said CA Descano. “This needless, senseless violence that stole a husband and father from his family is beyond tragic. I hope this sends a message to anyone who thinks about engaging in this kind of behavior: you will be caught, and you will be prosecuted.” The co-defendant in this case, Timothy Bradshaw Robinson, entered an Alford plea to a robbery charge on February 22, 2024 and on May 10, 2024 was sentenced to 20 years of total incarceration with all but 3 years and 6 months suspended, with 5 years of probation. Lark’s next court date is a status hearing on March 13, 2026, at which time a sentencing hearing will be scheduled. He faces up to a life sentence for the murder charge and up to 3 years for the firearm charge. ##

I hope this sends a message to anyone who thinks about engaging in this kind of behavior: you will be caught, and you will be prosecuted. (2/2)

COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY STEVE DESCANO ANNOUNCES CONVICTION FOR 2021 ATM ROBBERY MURDER OF NELSON ALEXANDER Fairfax County, VA — Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano announced today that Winston Nathaniel Lark IV, 20, was convicted by a jury of first-degree felony murder and use of a firearm in commission of murder for killing Nelson Alexander, 73, in the Falls Church ATM robbery in 2021. In the early morning of October 20, 2021, Nelson Alexander, of Falls Church, went to a Wells Fargo ATM on Annandale Road before going to work. Lark, of Washington D.C., and his half-brother Timothy Bradshaw Robinson, 22, of Falls Church, had stolen a Nissan Murano SUV and were looking for other opportunities for theft. They saw Mr. Alexander at the ATM attempting to withdraw cash. Lark got out of the car and confronted Mr. Alexander at gunpoint, attempting to rob him. Mr. Alexander resisted, and Lark fired two shots with his .38 caliber special Colt revolver, hitting Mr. Alexander once in the chest, before getting back into the car driven by Bradshaw Robinson and fleeing the scene. Mr. Alexander was found by two citizens and was taken to the hospital where he eventually succumbed to his injuries.

Nelson Alexander didn’t know the defendant, he didn’t do anything wrong, and he was just going about his day as usual.

This needless, senseless violence that stole a husband and father from his family is beyond tragic. (1/2)

Red Flag laws save lives. Check out the dashboard and see more information about the 399 cases we've handled:

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/commonwealth...

Red flag data dashboard update: December 2025 “Many instances of gun violence are preceded by cowardice, observable warning behaviors—red flags—indicating that an individual’s access to firearms made them a danger to themselves or to you. With red flag laws, we can stop these potential tragedies before they happen. Every month, we update our public data dashboard so that you can see how these laws are being used to prevent gun violence in your community.”

🚨 Milestone alert 🚨

We're about to cross 400 Red Flag cases handled—with this update, we're officially at 399.

This number leads the Commonwealth, and it's a testament to the work we've done to take advantage of this proven way to proactively prevent gun violence.

2025 was another year of making Fairfax County a safer place to live—these are our office’s top 10 highlights and achievements.

See you in 2026!

Forensic evidence showed El-Sayed’s DNA under Ms. Abbruscato’s fingernails, and witnesses heard both Ms. Abbruscato’s screams and a male voice shouting soon afterward. El-Sayed had made no attempt to contact police in the aftermath of the killing. “For someone who loved life as much as Cara did, this is maybe the most cruel ending imaginable,” said CA Descano. “Today, her murderer was held accountable. Nothing can bring Cara back, but to her family and friends: I hope this allows you to begin to heal.” El-Sayed’s sentencing date is March 20, 2026. He faces up to life in prison for the first-degree murder charge and up to 5 years for the concealing-the-body charge. ###

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Fairfax County, VA — Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano announced today that Rami El-Sayed was convicted by a jury of first-degree murder for killing his girlfriend, Cara Abbruscato, on September 24, 2023, and hiding her body before fleeing to New Jersey. El-Sayed was also convicted on an additional charge of concealing Ms. Abbruscato’s body. Prosecutors showed at trial that El-Sayed, 36, and Ms. Abbruscato, 40, were camping together in a tent in Burke Lake Park. El-Sayed stabbed Ms. Abbruscato 17 times with a knife, including six times in her neck, killing her, while receiving scratches on his face. El-Sayed then attempted to conceal her body by placing Ms. Abbruscato fully inside the tent and zipping it up. El-Sayed then drove Ms. Abbruscato’s car to his hometown of Patterson, New Jersey. Campers found Ms. Abbruscato’s body on September 30, 2023, after noticing a foul smell coming from the tent. El-Sayed was arrested in New Jersey on October 2, 2023, and extradited to Fairfax County on November 9, 2023.

For someone who loved life as much as Cara did, this is maybe the most cruel ending imaginable.

Today, her murderer was held accountable. Nothing can bring Cara back, but to her family and friends: I hope this allows you to begin to heal.

(cont’d)

- A 22 y/o for fleeing from a trooper at speeds of 130mph during an attempted traffic stop

- A 51 y/o for inappropriately touching the genital area of their nephew

Some cases we've prosecuted recently include:

- A 52 y/o for strangling their wife and preventing her from calling 911 after an argument

- A 46 y/o for killing someone as part of a mob

We brought survivors and prosecutors together to learn how the criminal legal system can do better in supporting the needs and healing of victims of crime.

Survivors are too often spoken for. This discussion flipped the script. Survivors led the conversation. Prosecutors showed up to listen.

The cases we've prosecuted recently include (cont'd):

- A 37 y/o for robbing a stranger of their purse with a knife

- A 32 y/o for driving while intoxicated with a blood alcohol level of .20

The cases we've prosecuted recently include:

- A 36 y/o for selling 14 grams of cocaine to an undercover officer

- A 20 y/o for using a gun to rob someone of Dior sneakers during a private sale

- A 23 y/o for driving while intoxicated on the wrong side of the highway

My biggest priority is your safety.

Below, you can see a snapshot of the work we do to protect you, your family, and our larger Fairfax community.

CA Descano’s report on the April 29, 2025 officer-involved shooting.

What we’re doing for you A Snapshot from CA Steve Descano

Protecting our community from theft & fraud Prosecuting crimes like embezzlement, theft, and property loss we prosecuted: A 27 y/o for stealing over $2,000 worth of Gucci items from a TJMaxx and then ramming two police cars while fleeing A 52 y/o for scamming an elderly person out of $6,000 by performing fake pest control work and then driving them to a bank to withdraw cash

Securing justice for victims of violent crimes Prosecuting crimes like assault, shootings, and stabbings we prosecuted: A 24 y/o for meeting a woman at a hotel and robbing her at gunpoint before sexually assaulting her and shooting her A 34 y/o for stabbing their girlfriend in the chest

Keeping our roads safe for drivers Prosecuting crimes like DWIS, reckless driving, and hit-and-runs we prosecuted: A 27 y/o for a hit-and-run that killed a pedestrian A 24 y/o for crashing their vehicle while intoxicated resulting in the death of their passenger A 35 y/o for attempting to escape a trooper while going 100mph in a 55mph zone

Below, you can see a snapshot of some of the work we’ve done recently to protect you, your family, and our larger Fairfax community.

On March 20, 2024, Cruz Delcid, 20, of Herndon, was sitting in his car in a parking lot on Coppermine Road when he saw two teenage acquaintances, one of them MM, 14, and gestured them over. As MM approached the vehicle, Cruz Delcid put a loaded firearm in his waistband and exited his vehicle. The three had a conversation, which escalated, and after separating himself from the two teens, Cruz Delcid fired three shots, two of which struck MM in the neck and chest. Cruz Delcid immediately fled into the nearby woods, where he disposed of the firearm and his clothing, before taking the Metro and an Uber to his girlfriend’s residence and smashing his phone to avoid being tracked. He turned himself into FCPD the next day. In June 2025, the case resulted in a mistrial due a hung jury. “My heart breaks for the victim’s family,” said CA Descano. “His parents deserved the chance to see him graduate high school and pursue his dreams. He had his whole life ahead of him, and I hope that this conviction allows everyone who knew him to continue healing from this terrible loss.” Cruz Delcid’s sentencing date is January 9, 2026. He faces up to 10 years in prison for the manslaughter charge.

My heart breaks for the victim’s family.

His parents deserved the chance to see him graduate high school and pursue his dreams.

He had his whole life ahead of him, and I hope that this conviction allows everyone who knew him to continue healing from this terrible loss.

On February 28, 2025, Douglas Sommer, 89, of Chantilly, took his .32 caliber FN Herstal 1922 pistol and went into the den area of his home where his wife, Marilyn Sommer, 87, was sleeping in their recliner chair. Sommer pointed the firearm at close range where Mrs. Sommer was sleeping and pulled the trigger five times, hitting Mrs. Sommer multiple times in her head and chest. Both Sommer and their daughter, who was in a different room of the house, called 911. When Fairfax County first responders arrived, Sommer calmly stated that he killed his wife and showed them where the gun was located on their couch, before he was taken into custody. Their daughter had been at the family home that day to help her parents move into an assisted-living facility; she later told police that her father did not want to move. Sommer’s sentencing date is January 9, 2026. He faces up to 10 years in prison for the manslaughter charge, and up to 5 years for the firearm charge.

Marilyn Sommer’s long life ended in her own home, at the hands of her own husband.

This is a tragic outcome for the whole Sommer family.

COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY STEVE DESCANO ANNOUNCES SENTENCE IN DECADES-OLD SEXUAL ASSAULT COLD CASE Fairfax County, VA — Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano announced today that Edward Pottmyer, 60, of Chantilly, was sentenced to 20 years of total incarceration, 10 years suspended, for sexual assaulting a jogger on a bike path in the Fair Lakes area on September 9, 1998. Initial investigation in 1998 did not lead to the identification of the assailant. However, law enforcement continued to review the evidence periodically, and in March 2023, it was recommended that samples of the DNA evidence collected from the victim’s body during the assault be submitted for additional testing from a private laboratory. This identified Mr. Pottmyer as a potential suspect. Law enforcement then conducted surveillance, during which Mr. Pottmyer was seen buying and drinking beer in silver Coors Light cans. Those cans were recovered from Mr. Pottmyer’s garbage, which were then used to develop a DNA profile. That profile matched that of the attacker from the incident in 1998. Police then obtained a search warrant for a DNA swab from Mr. Pottmyer, which matched both the beer cans and the profile of the suspect. Mr. Pottmyer was arrested in June 2024 and pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated sexual battery and one count of abduction in July 2025.

This is the type of scenario that usually only exists in our nightmares, and certainly not in Fairfax County.

Our police deserve full credit for never giving up on this cold case—and after nearly 30 long years, the victim of this horrific act is finally receiving the closure she deserves.

Image that says What we’re doing for you A snapshot from CA Steve Descano

Image that says Protecting our community from theft and fraud Prosecuting crimes like embezzlement, theft, and property loss We prosecuted: - a 34 y/o for attempting my to steal a minor’s phone and watch - a 55 y/o for stealing over $47,000 worth of jewelry from someone they used to work for as a housekeeper

Image that says Securing justice for victims of violent crimes Prosecuting crimes like assault, shootings, and stabbings We prosecuted: - a 19 y/o for using a gun to rob someone they knew from school - a 37 y/o for shooting at a stranger’s car on the highway after a short verbal exchange

Image that says Tackling the exploitation & abuse of children Prosecuting crimes like child sexual abuse material possession We prosecuted: - An 18 y/o for sexually assaulting their 4 year old cousin - a 24 y/o for taking photos of the intimate parts of the 2 year old they were nannying and sharing them online

Below, you can see a snapshot of some of the work we’ve done recently to protect you, your family, and our larger Fairfax community.

REPORT ON APRIL 23, 2025, OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING1 On April 23, 2025, Fairfax County Police Department (“FCPD”) Officer David Antal was conducting routine traffic enforcement on Majestic Lane in the Fair Oaks section of Fairfax, Virginia. At 2:35pm, he conducted a traffic stop on Mr. Jamal Wali for an expired inspection sticker. When Officer Antal activated his lights and sirens, Mr. Wali abruptly stopped his car in the right lane of Majestic Lane. Officer Antal approached Mr. Wali’s car in full police uniform equipped with body- worn camera and made contact with Mr. Wali. Officer Antal took a position next to Mr. Wali’s driver-side window and did not leave that position until Mr. Wali opened fire a few moments later. Mr. Wali stated that he had a firearm and refused to provide Officer Antal with identifying documents or information. Mr. Wali was armed with a firearm holstered on his right hip and two additional magazines in a gun belt on his left hip. Mr. Wali became verbally aggressive with Officer Antal, who quickly called on his radio for a supervisor to come to the scene. Officer Antal stated on his radio that Mr. Wali was armed and refusing to provide identification and that Mr. Wali kept reaching towards his firearm. During the entirety of Officer Antal and Mr. Wali’s one-on-one conversation, which lasted approximately four minutes and forty-five seconds, Mr. Wali used confrontational and aggressive language with Officer Antal. Mr. Wali continually expressed frustration and anger with his current life circumstances and his treatment by the United States. Multiple times he made comments about his feeling that he was “dying” and “being killed,” expressly stating at approximately one minute and fifty-four seconds into the conversation, “Why are you fucking trying to kill me? . . . I’m already dying.” Mr. Wali also multiple times directed Officer Antal to not reach for his weapon, stating at approximately two minutes and six seconds into the conversation, “I’m …

Officer Antal’s earlier radio call. They arrived at Mr. Wali’s car within seconds of each other after parking their cruisers behind Officer Antal’s cruiser. They both wore full FCPD uniform equipped with body-worn cameras. Officer Lachapelle approached on the passenger side and stood at the open front-passenger window. A few seconds later, Officer Weaver approached on the driver side, heading towards a position outside of Mr. Wali’s open driver window and next to Officer Antal. As he approached the car, Officer Weaver saw that Mr. Wali was reaching out of his car window. (Mr. Wali was handing Officer Antal an identification card.) Upon arriving at the car, Officer Weaver reached inside the car’s cabin with his left hand and grabbed Mr. Wali’s left wrist. At this point, Mr. Wali reached for his firearm with his right hand while Officer Weaver was commanding him not to reach. Mr. Wali pulled the firearm out of its holster, chambered a round, and discharged one shot, which went through both Officer Weaver’s right arm and Officer Antal’s left arm before coming to rest inside a vehicle parked in a shopping center across the street. From his vantage point on the passenger side of the car, Officer Lachapelle could see Officer Weaver attempt to gain control of Mr. Wali’s hands and Mr. Wali then unholster his firearm. Nearly simultaneously with Mr. Wali’s shot, Officer Lachapelle unholstered his department-issued firearm and fired four rounds, all of which made contact with Mr. Wali’s upper-right-back area. Officer Lachapelle called “shots fired” and “Signal 1” over the radio, indicating an officer had been injured. Multiple units then responded to the scene. Once additional backup arrived, officers extracted Mr. Wali from the vehicle, secured his firearm, and began to render aid to his wounds. He was later declared deceased. All four of Officer Lachapelle’s discharged rounds were recovered from Mr. Wali’s body during a subsequent autopsy. My review2 of the incident leads me…

force did not violate any criminal laws. Accordingly, I find no violations of criminal law on the part of Officer Lachapelle and decline to bring any criminal charge against him. Steve T. Descano Commonwealth’s Attorney Fairfax County, Virginia

CA Descano’s report on the April 23, 2025 officer-involved shooting.

Image that says: What we’re doing for you A snapshot from CA Steve Descano

Image that says: Protecting our community from theft and fraud Prosecuting crimes like embezzlement, theft, and property loss We prosecuted: - a 75 y/o do defrauding 42 employees of over $5 million in wages - a 46 y/o for test driving an e-bike using a fraudulent ID and never returning

Image that says: Protecting our community from theft and fraud Prosecuting crimes like embezzlement, theft, and property loss We prosecuted: - a 25 y/o for stealing a stranger’s vehicle and running from police - a 41 y/o for failing to register as a sex offender

Image that says: Securing justice for victims of violent crimes Prosecuting crimes like assault, shootings, and stabbings We prosecuted: - a 22 y/o for striking a crossing guard with their car and running over their leg - a 48 y/o for shooting and killing their girlfriend - a 38 y/o for attacking and severely injuring the partner of their ex

Below, you can see a snapshot of some of the work we’ve done recently to protect you, your family, and our larger Fairfax community.