Four Suspects Arrested in String of Armed Bank Robberies

ATLANTA—Acting Special Agent in Charge Ricky Maxwell, FBI Atlanta, in conjunction with Austell Police Chief Robert Starrett, announces the following arrests at Austell, Georgia on the evening of Wednesday, September 5, 2012:

On Wednesday, September 5, 2012, Jason Blackwell, Torrey Marable, Deandre Markee King, and Rico Blackwell were arrested by officers of the Austell Police Department after one of their officers, Sgt. Robert Sfreddo, conducted a traffic stop after reports were received that these individuals were acting in a suspicious manner at the PNC Bank, located at 2913 Veterans Memorial Parkway, Austell, Georgia. It was noted that these individuals were driving a silver Buick Park Avenue, which officers knew as the vehicle described in an earlier area bank robbery.

As a result of the ensuing investigation resulting from that car stop, all four were charged today, Thursday, September 6, 2012, via federal criminal complaint with violation of Title 18 USC 371, conspiracy to commit bank robbery, PNC Bank, 2913 Veterans Memorial Parkway, Austell, Georgia. They are further considered suspects in the below described string of armed bank robberies.

On Tuesday, August 28, 2012, at approximately 3:15 p.m., a lone black male entered the BB&T Bank, located at 2480 Dallas Highway, Marietta, Georgia, brandished a black semi-automatic handgun, and announced a robbery. After jumping over the teller counter and obtaining an undisclosed amount of money, the robber was observed departing the bank in an older model Buick Park Avenue sedan, silver or light grey in color. The robber was described as being in his early to mid 20s, 5’9” in height, slender build, with two tattoos on his left arm and wearing long dreadlocks.

Prior to that robbery, bank surveillance photos were obtained at a PNC Bank nearby and taken less than an hour before the above robbery. Investigators are confident that the individual in those photos depict the robber in this and two previous Atlanta area armed bank robberies.

On Monday, August 20, 2012, at approximately 4:40 p.m., three black males armed with handguns entered the PNC Bank, located at 2390 Mount Vernon Road, Dunwoody, Georgia. After forcing bank employees behind the counter, the robbers obtained an undisclosed amount of money and departed the bank without further incident.

On Thursday, August 9, 2012, at approximately 3:50 p.m., two black males entered the Fifth Third Bank branch at 2555 Piedmont Road, Suite 110 in Atlanta, Georgia, and announced a robbery. One of the robbers was displaying a silver or gray semi-automatic handgun. After obtaining an undisclosed amount of money, both robbers fled on foot.

All four individuals will be afforded an initial appearance this afternoon in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Anand at the Richard B. Russell Federal Courthouse, Atlanta, Georgia.

Anyone with additional information regarding this matter should contact the FBI at (404) 679-9000.

The public should be reminded that the above are mere allegations and that all persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.