Five Men Indicted for Cedar Bluff Bank Robbery

BIRMINGHAM—A federal grand jury today indicted five men in connection with the armed bank robbery of a Cherokee County bank, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and FBI Special Agent in Charge Patrick Maley.

The indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges REMAREZ ANTWAN BAKER, 28, of Anniston, JAMES LAVAN SHROPSHIRE Jr., 25, COREY JEREL MORGAN, 28, and BRIAN JEROME LINDSEY, 36, all of Gadsden, and JAMES JAHAD RAVENEL, 30, of New York, New York, with armed bank robbery and using a firearm during a crime of violence.

According to the indictment, BAKER, SHROPSHIRE, RAVENEL and MORGAN entered the Union State Bank in Cedar Bluff, on Dec. 14 and, using firearms, robbed the bank of more than $150,000. LINDSEY aided in the planning of the bank robbery, according to the indictment.

Vance and Maley commended the many law enforcement agencies that responded to the bank robbery and helped capture the suspects who fled the scene. “The cooperative effort of law enforcement, across the board, on this case was remarkable and led to the quick arrest of these suspects,” Vance said. “The FBI, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Cedar Bluff Police Department, Leesburg Police Department, Centre Police Department, Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office, U.S. National Park Service, Ft. Payne Police Department, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, Gadsden Police Department, Alabama Marine Police, Alabama State Troopers, Etowah County Drug Enforcement Task Force and the Chattooga County, Ga., Sheriff’s Office all deserve our thanks,” she said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph P. Montminy is prosecuting the case.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove a defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.