Lithonia Man Sentenced for Armed Robbery of Conyers Credit Union
Defendant, a Convicted Felon, Bound Bank Employees and a Customer with Duct Tape, Then Led Police on High-Speed Car Chase

ATLANTA—CEPEDA BROUGHTON, 41, of Lithonia, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Amy Totenberg to serve 22.5 years in federal prison on charges of armed bank robbery, use of a firearm during a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

United States Attorney Sally Yates said: “Today’s prison sentence reflects our office’s commitment to vigorously prosecute violent criminals who endanger the lives of our citizens and the members of our law enforcement community. This defendant terrorized the employees and customers of Georgia’s Own Credit Union during an armed bank robbery. He then led police on a high-speed chase in the rain, on busy highways in Conyers, Georgia. The chase resulted in several car accidents, involving both private citizens and police officers. The defendant’s callous disregard for the law and the rights of law-abiding citizens could easily have had far more tragic consequences. We are satisfied that his lengthy term of imprisonment reflects the seriousness of his crimes and actions.”

Brian D. Lamkin, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office, stated: “The defendant in this matter displayed a reckless disregard for not only the public but for law enforcement when he chose to draw his weapon on them during arrest. The swift response by the Conyers Police Department was critical to the successful outcome of this case and today’s sentencing, and the citizens of Conyers should be proud of the capabilities and professionalism displayed by their police department in this matter.”

BROUGHTON was sentenced to 22 and one-half years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. BROUGHTON was convicted of these charges on September 7, 2011 upon his plea of guilty.

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges, and other information presented in court: On March 9, 2011, at approximately 3:00 p.m., BROUGHTON, brandishing a pistol, entered Georgia’s Own Credit Union located on Sigman Road in Conyers, Georgia. BROUGHTON pulled a customer who was attempting to leave the credit union back inside. He ordered the customer and four employees into the backroom of the bank, and ordered one of the employees to bind the customer and the other three employees with duct tape. BROUGHTON then forced that employee to open the vault and place all the money in a bag he had with him. BROUGHTON forced the employee to accompany him to the teller stations in the front of the bank and give him the money from the teller drawers. BROUGHTON seized a total of $140,276 in bank proceeds. He then forced the employee to return to the back room and bound her with duct tape.

BROUGHTON fled the bank parking lot in a GMC Denali, jumping the curb because the credit union driveway had been blocked by a Conyers Police Department vehicle. BROUGHTON led several Conyers Police Department officers on a high-speed chase on Sigman Road and Highway 138 in Conyers, driving at a high rate of speed, weaving in and out of traffic, and on one occasion jumping a median. The chase resulted in multiple accidents in which police vehicles as well as those driven by private citizens were damaged.

BROUGHTON fled on foot after a police vehicle struck the GMC Denali and forced it onto an embankment. Police officers pursued BROUGHTON, firing their service weapons after BROUGHTON turned and brandished his handgun at them. The officers pursued BROUGHTON through the parking lot of a retail store and behind an apartment complex, where he surrendered and was taken into custody.

The robbery proceeds were recovered from the GMC Denali, which law enforcement officers later learned had been reported stolen.

This case was investigated by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with valuable assistance from the City of Conyers Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorneys Teresa D. Hoyt and Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. prosecuted the case.

For further information, please contact Sally Q. Yates, United States Attorney, or Charysse L. Alexander, Executive Assistant United States Attorney, through Patrick Crosby, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Attorney’s Office, at (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.justice.gov/usao/gan.