Bank Robber Convicted
| U.S. Attorney’s Office September 17, 2009 |
MACON, GA—G.F. Peterman, III, Acting United States Attorney, announced that Merkuri Stanback was convicted today 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 25 years’ imprisonment on the bank robbery charge, a minimum mandatory consecutive sentence of seven years’ up to life imprisonment for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and a maximum sentence of 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, “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 was 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.