Five Arrested for Bank Robberies on the Treasure Coast

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Michael B. Steinbach, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office; John A. Bolduc, Chief, Port St. Lucie Police Department; Kenneth Mascara, St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office; J. Michelle Morris, Chief, Sebastian Police Department; and Deryl Loar, Sheriff, Indian River Sheriff’s Office, announce the arrest of Anthony Isaac Johnson, 24, of West Palm Beach; Allan Demetrius Bradford, 22, of West Palm Beach; Ivory Lee Robinson, III, 22, of West Palm Beach; Tomaleesha Jeffie Laqua McKeliver, 22, of Ft. Pierce; and Paul Edward Moore, 25, of Green Acres. The five defendants made their initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Frank J. Lynch, Jr. in Ft. Pierce and were detained pending trial. A pre-trial detention was set for Friday, August 2, 2013.

The criminal complaint charges the five defendants with violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951, conspiracy to obstruct, delay, or affect commerce or the movement of any article or commodity in commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act); and Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(o) and 924(c), conspiracy to use and carry a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. If convicted of the Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy, the defendants face a possible maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison. If convicted of the conspiracy to use and carry a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, the defendants face a mandatory minimum of seven years and a possible maximum sentence of life in prison, consecutive to any other sentence imposed.

According to the criminal complaint, on July 8, 2013, at approximately 9:28 a.m., PNC Bank branch located at 4156 Okeechobee Road in Fort Pierce, Florida, was robbed by three black males wearing white clothing and white cloth masks. At least one of the males was armed with a hand gun. All three subjects then fled in a silver mini-van, which was subsequently recovered. Shortly thereafter, law enforcement attempted to conduct a traffic stop of a white Chrysler sedan, operated by a female driver, but the driver failed to pull over, and a high-speed pursuit ensued. This vehicle was soon disabled near the intersection of Port St. Lucie Boulevard and Aster Road in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Upon execution of a state search warrant on the white Chrysler sedan, a large amount of currency, a semi-automatic handgun, several cellular phones, cloth gloves, and numerous articles of clothing, consistent with what the bank robbers wore during the robbery of the PNC Bank in Fort Pierce, Florida, was recovered. The driver— Tomaleesha Jeffie Laqua McKeliver—and the three passengers—Anthony Isaac Johnson, Allan Demetrius Bradford, and Ivory Lee Robinson, III—were arrested and transported to the Port St. Lucie Police Department.

The criminal complaint also states that on July 8, 2013, at approximately 9:14 a.m., the PNC Bank branch located at 5493 NW St. James Drive in Port St. Lucie, Florida, was robbed by three black males wearing head coverings. At least one of the males was armed with a hand gun. Shortly after two of the males fled the PNC Bank, the third became momentarily trapped inside. He later fled the PNC Bank on foot removing clothing as he fled. A bag containing money was recovered near the PNC Bank, and Paul Edward Moore was arrested nearby and transported to the Port St. Lucie Police Department.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI, Port St. Lucie Police Department, St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sebastian Police Department for their work on this case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carmen Lineberger.

A criminal complaint is only an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.