Siblings Held Without Bond in Wedding Scam Murder

A Washington area brother and sister charged in the beating and stabbing death of a Northeast Washington pizzeria owner were ordered held without bond at a hearing Friday in D.C. Superior Court.

Leon Robinson, 25, of Northeast, and his sister, Shanika Robinson, 26, of Capitol Heights, were charged with first-degree murder in the Aug. 18 beating and stabbing death of Shahabuddin Rana, 44.

According to investigators, Rana was linked to an immigration scam where he had agreed to pay Shanika Robinson $500 a week to marry his brother, a Pakistani national, then reneged on the deal after the wedding.

Prosecutors said the Robinsons, along with Isiah Genus, 26, of Southeast Washington went to the pizzeria located in the 2300 block of Fourth Street NE, where they beat and stabbed Rana and then set his body on fire. They also stole about $2,000 in cash, police have said. Rana's body was found with 12 stab wounds and 13 lacerations to the head.

Judge Frederick H. Weisberg ordered the Robinsons held without bond. Their next hearing is scheduled for Jan. 22.

In a separate hearing Thursday, Weisberg ordered Genus held without bond. His next hearing is scheduled for Jan. 15.