Bank Robber Convicted

G.F. Peterman, III, Acting United States Attorney, announced that Merkuri Stanback was convicted September 17, 2009, after a three-day trial before the Honorable Hugh Lawson, United States District Judge for the Middle District of Georgia. Stanback was convicted of Armed Bank Robbery, Brandishing a Firearm During a Crime of Violence, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Stanback faces a maximum sentence of twenty-five (25) years' imprisonment on the bank robbery, a minimum mandatory consecutive sentence of seven (7) years' up to life imprisonment for Brandishing a Firearm During a Crime of Violence, and a maximum sentence of ten (10) years' imprisonment for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

On December 28, 2007, Stanback, along with two co-defendants, entered the Park Community Federal Credit Union located on Riverside Drive, Macon, Georgia brandishing a firearm. Stanback and his co-defendants restrained employees and ransacked the teller area. Stanback and cohorts then robbed the contents of the bank vault and stole approximately $198,439.00. While in the process of fleeing, the robbers lost approximately $49,000 which was recovered in an adjoining parking lot.

A tip to the FBI lead to the search of a residence located at 1032 Main Street, where the defendant was residing. Macon Police Officers and FBI agents recovered a majority of the stolen money as well as the firearms and clothing used in the robbery. Warrants were issued for Stanback, who was later arrested in Pensacola, Florida by the United States Marshals Service.

Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, G.F. Peterman, III, stated that “Mr. Stanback will be subject to a long prison sentence under the federal robbery and firearms laws. Bank robbers should be put on notice that they will serve the full term of years imposed because there is no parole in the federal system.”

The case as investigated by the Macon Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Marshals Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Solis. Questions concerning this case should be directed to Sue McKinney, Public Affairs Specialist, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2602.

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“Career Criminal” Pleads Guilty to Armed Bank Robbery

ARTHANIEL SMITH JR., 37, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Rome to the armed bank robbery of the Wachovia Bank at 4580 Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway in Hiram, Georgia. Classified as an armed “career criminal,” because of an extensive criminal history, SMITH agreed to a sentence of over 40 years in prison.

Acting United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said, “Today a career offender has been removed from the society he has victimized for more than fifteen years. This defendant’s long confinement in federal prison ensures that Georgia citizens will not again fall prey to his violent crimes.”

Gregory Jones, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta, said, “The FBI is relieved to have such a career offender off the streets. I commend the observant witness who relayed vital information in this case to the responding law enforcement officers. It is this type of community involvement and partnership with law enforcement that will help keep their communities safe.”

According to Acting United States Attorney Yates and the information presented in court: SMITH admitted that on March 2, 2009, he and another male unlawfully entered the Wachovia Bank at 4580 Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway in Hiram, Georgia and hid inside the bank. The following morning, when the first employee of the day entered the bank, SMITH and his cohort, armed with handguns, confronted the employee and demanded money contained in the Bank's vault. After obtaining the funds, both men fled from the bank to a waiting vehicle. A concerned citizen observed the men flee the bank and reported the make, model and tag number of their vehicle. SMITH and his cohort were stopped by a Paulding County Sheriff's Deputy within ten minutes. All of the bank's funds were recovered from the vehicle, along with the gloves, masks and handguns used by the robbers. Both men subsequently confessed to committing the crime.

SMITH will be sentenced by United States District Court Judge Robert L. Vining, Jr. on December 17, 2009 at 10 a.m.

This case is being investigated by Special Agents of the FBI.

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Defendant Pleads Guilty to Making Bomb Threats to the Atlanta Housing Authority

MICHAEL EZZARD, 47, of Atlanta, Georgia, pleaded guilty September 15, 2009, in federal district court to four counts of threatening to use a bomb to kill employees of the Atlanta Housing Authority (“AHA”) and to damage and destroy AHA buildings.

Acting United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said of the case, “These threats struck fear in the hearts of the AHA employees who were forced to quickly evacuate the building and caused great disruption to the surrounding businesses. It also forced local law enforcement to waste valuable time and manpower responding to this hoax. These are serious crimes.”

According to Acting United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: EZZARD made four telephonic bomb threats to the AHA. On January 22, 2009, EZZARD called the AHA and stated there was a bomb in the building and that he was going to “kill everybody down there.” The threat required AHA to immediately evacuate their offices and also required that law enforcement respond and search the entire building. Pedestrian and vehicular traffic in the streets surrounding the AHA also were blocked. All of the AHA employees were kept outside of the building for approximately three hours. On January 23, 2009, EZZARD made a second telephonic bomb threat to the AHA. He stated that there were four bombs in the building and that he was going to blow up the whole building.

Then on January 26, 2009, EZZARD made a third telephonic bomb threat to the AHA. He stated there were three bombs in the building and that “we’re going to kill everybody down there at Atlanta Housing Authority.” Later that same day, while under surveillance by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, EZZARD made his fourth and final telephonic bomb threat to the AHA. He stated that “we have a bomb in the building” and we are going to “kill everybody down there.” Agents obtained an arrest warrant and arrested EZZARD shortly thereafter.

EZZARD was indicted on February 24, 2009, on four counts of making telephonic bomb threats. Today he pleaded guilty to all four counts. He could receive a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.

Sentencing for EZZARD is now scheduled for December 1, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. before United States District Judge Charles A. Pannell, Jr.

This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. Assistance in this case is also being provided by the Atlanta Police Department’s Detective Division.

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Alapaha Circuit Superior Court Judge Pleads Guilty

Former Alapaha Circuit Superior Court Judge Brooks E. Blitch, III, pled guilty before the Honorable Hugh Lawson, United States District Judge for the Middle District of Georgia, to one count of Honest Services Fraud Conspiracy in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341, 1343, 1346, and 1349. The maximum sentence for this offense is 20 years' imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a mandatory assessment of $100.00. Blitch had already surrendered his judicial position and agreed to never again seek such as the result of prior proceedings instituted by the Judicial Qualifications Committee of Georgia.

Pursuant to a plea agreement between the government and Blitch, he would receive a probated sentence and a fine, the length and amount of each to be set by the court after a pre-sentence investigation and report are completed by the United States Probation Office. The agreement will not be final until approved by the court, which announcement is usually made at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set, but normally is scheduled approximately 60 days after a conviction or plea of guilty.

“The essence of the honest services fraud charge was that the defendant allowed his judicial decisions to be manipulated by outside influences from improper sources, such as the requests of particular individuals who had his ear regarding special treatment for some of those who appeared or had cases before him,” said Acting United States Attorney G. F. “Pete” Peterman, III. “Our goal throughout this and related prosecutions has been to ensure that judicial and law enforcement decisions made in the Alapaha Judicial Circuit are properly based on the dictates of the law and basic fairness, in an open and public proceeding, rather than through favoritism and improper influence in private chambers.”

In prosecutions connected with this matter one sheriff, a court clerk, and a Clinch County State/Juvenile Court Judge, in addition to other individuals, have pled guilty to criminal charges, as well.

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Hephzibah Man Charged with Being a Career Criminal in Possession of Stolen Firearm

Edmund A. Booth, Jr., United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announced that the federal grand jury sitting in Savannah has returned a two count indictment against Bobby Lee Roberson, age 45, of Hephzibah, Georgia, charging him under the Armed Career Criminal Act with being a felon in possession of a stolen firearm.

Booth stated that the charges in the indictment relate to the February 18, 2008 shooting in the West Lake neighborhood of Martinez, Georgia that was reported in news coverage at the time. Also as reported by news media, the defendant evaded law enforcement officials on this matter until he was arrested on July 27, 2009.

Booth noted that if convicted under the Armed Career Criminal Act, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years' imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. If convicted of possessing a stolen firearm, the defendant faces a maximum statutory penalty of ten years' imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. An initial appearance and arraignment date has not yet been set.

Booth explained that this case is part of the district’s Project Ceasefire initiative, a program devoted to reducing gun violence by prosecuting individuals found in possession of firearms who cannot legally possess them, such as felons and drug dealers.

Booth emphasized that an indictment is only an accusation and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent Ronald Rhodes conducted the investigation which led to the indictment. Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Brian Ozden led the federal efforts to apprehend Roberson while he was a fugitive. The government is represented in this case by Assistant United States Attorney David M. Stewart.

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Gustav One Year Later: A Reminder For People And Businesses To Plan And Prepare

This time last year, the Gulf Coast was cleaning up from Hurricane Gustav, one of four tropical cyclones that made U.S. landfall in quick succession in August and September. Damages from Gustav resulted in a presidential declaration for Louisiana, where the storm made landfall, plus three states served by FEMA's regional office in Atlanta - Alabama, Florida and Mississippi.

To date, those three states have received more than $51 million in assistance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help people and communities recover. Florida received $1.1 million and Alabama nearly $7 million in Public Assistance. Mississippi received $43.7 million for Public Assistance as well as Individuals and Households Program assistance, including low-cost loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

"The one-year mark of Gustav reminds us that emergency situations can occur with little or no notice," said FEMA Region IV Administrator Phil May, who oversees the agency's operations in eight southeastern states. "Everyone needs to understand the importance of preparedness. That means: have a plan, have a kit, learn a skill and check on a neighbor once your family is safe after a disaster strikes," he said.

"September is National Preparedness Month. Alabama residents and businesses need to be proactive and take advantage of available tools to plan and prepare for the next event," said AEMA Director Brock Long. "Alabama dodged the brunt of Hurricane Gustav, but the next time Alabama may be the state that is directly impacted."

For more information on National Preparedness Month or getting prepared, call 800-BE-READY or visit www.ready.gov, www.listo.gov the Spanish version, or www.citizencorps.gov for free preparedness resources, such as family emergency plan templates, emergency supply kit checklists, and much more.

The Ready Web site also has a special sections for children, ages 8-12, (Ready Kids) and small- to medium-sized businesses (Ready Business).
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Violent Crime Rate Remained Unchanged While Theft Rate Declined in 2008

/PRNewswire/ -- The violent crime rate in 2008--19.3 victimizations per 1,000 persons age 12 or older--was unchanged from the previous year, the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) in the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, announced today. The property crime rate declined during 2008 from 147 to 135 crimes per 1,000 households, primarily as a result of decreases in theft and motor vehicle theft.

In 2008, an estimated 4.9 million violent crimes (rapes or sexual assaults, robberies, aggravated assaults and simple assaults) occurred, as well as an estimated 16.3 million property crimes (burglaries, motor vehicle thefts and household thefts) and 137,000 personal thefts (picked pockets and snatched purses). These offenses included both crimes reported and unreported to police. With the exception of theft and motor vehicle theft, victimization rates for every type of crime measured were unchanged from the 2007 levels.

Violent and property crime rates in 2008 remain at the lowest levels recorded since 1973, the first year that such data were collected. The rate of every major violent and property crime measured by BJS fell between 1999 and 2008. The overall violent crime rate fell 41 percent and the property crime rate declined by 32 percent during the last 10 years.

In 2008, women were more likely than men to be victimized by someone they knew. Seventy percent of all violent crimes against women were committed by a known offender (an intimate, family member or friend/acquaintance), compared to 49 percent of violence against men. Twenty-three percent of the non-fatal violence against women was committed by an intimate (current or former spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend), compared to three percent of the violence against men.

Between 1999 and 2008, the rate of firearm violence declined from 2.5 incidents per 1,000 persons age 12 or older to 1.4 per 1,000 persons. Offenders used firearms in seven percent of all violent crimes in 2008, unchanged from 1999.

Nearly half of all violent crimes and 40 percent of all property crimes were reported to police in 2008. Of the violent crimes, robbery (61 percent) and aggravated assault (62 percent) were most reported. Forty-one percent of rape/sexual assaults and simple assaults were reported to the police. A higher percentage of motor vehicle thefts (80 percent) than burglaries (56 percent) and thefts (34 percent) were reported to police.

These findings are drawn from BJS's National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), the nation's primary source for information on the frequency, characteristics and consequences of criminal victimization. Conducted since 1973, the NCVS is one of the largest continuous surveys conducted by the Federal government. In 2008, 42,093 households and 77,852 individuals age 12 or older were interviewed twice during the year for the NCVS.

Estimates from the NCVS, which includes offenses both reported and unreported to police, complement those from the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Uniform Crime Reporting Program (UCR), which measures crimes reported to law enforcement agencies across the Nation. Unlike the NCVS, the UCR includes crimes against persons of all ages and businesses, as well as fatal crimes. Preliminary UCR results released by the FBI in June showed a 2.5 percent decline in violent crimes reported to the police and a 1.6 percent decline in property crimes during 2008.

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