Convicted Gunman in Loomis Armored Truck Robbery is Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Federal Prison

DALLAS—Ennis Harris Jackson, a convicted gunman in the May 10, 2010, armed robbery of a Loomis armored truck in Mesquite, Texas, was sentenced late yesterday by U.S. District Judge Barbara M. G. Lynn to 210 months (17 ½ years) in federal prison. He pleaded guilty in June 2011 to aggravated bank robbery with a deadly weapon. A total of nine conspirators were convicted for their role in the armored car robbery; Jackson received the highest sentence. Today’s announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.

The remaining defendants, all Dallas residents, were sentenced as follows:

Christopher Peterson, 24, 168 months
Fred Taylor, 22, 96 months (consecutive to a three-year sentence he received earlier this year for another federal offense)
Jeremy Wright, 28, 72 months
Frederick Peterson, 25, 48 months
Troy Wilson, 23, 78 months
Ronald Mcguire, 23, 72 months
Billy Jackson, 23, 48 months
Nicholas Pyburn, 27, 48 months

According to documents filed in the case, these defendants admitted that they, and their accomplices, took $421,000 from a Loomis armored truck at the Bank of America, located at 1400 North Town East Boulevard in Mesquite. While Fred Taylor initiated the idea of the armored truck robbery, these four defendants, along with several co-defendants/accomplices, planned the robbery. According to the defendants, a Bank of America employee advised Taylor what time the armored truck would be at the bank and how much money it would be carrying.

On the day of the robbery, the defendants met at a McDonalds to finalize the details of the robbery. Five different vehicles were used to transport the defendants to the bank. Surveillance was set up at several points to ensure there were no police in the area. When the Loomis truck arrived, the guard entered the bank and left with $421,000. Two defendants jumped out of a car, approached the guard, pointed a gun at his head, and took the money he was carrying. A co-defendant/ accomplice arrived and two of the robbers left with him. Several of the robbers left the scene and later met to divide the money. Two were caught at the scene. Many of the defendants were quickly apprehended. However, months later DNA results led to three additional arrests: Christopher Peterson, Frederick Peterson and Ennis Jackson, who initially fled. The day after the bank robbery they purchased three luxury vehicles and jewelry. One vehicle was a 7 series BMW, with $20,000 in custom upgrades, including alligator embroidered stitching throughout the car.

The case was investigated by the FBI and Mesquite Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon McCarthy and John Kull prosecuted.