Savannah Man Indicted For Bank Robbery Spree

Savannah, GA – Jerald Bowman, 40, of Savannah, Georgia, was indicted by a federal grand jury sitting in Savannah on charges related to five bank robberies in the Savannah area.  Bowman was charged with five counts of armed bank robbery, five counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and the unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

The indictment alleges that Bowman robbed: (1) the Georgia’s Own Credit Union located at 401 Mall Boulevard, Savannah, Georgia on September 30, 2014; (2) the Wells Fargo located at 7939 Waters Avenue, Savannah, Georgia on November 12, 2014; (3) the Heritage Bank located at 14010 Abercorn Street, Savannah, Georgia on December 4, 2014; (4) Navy Federal Credit Union located at 3490 Highway 17 South, Richmond Hill, Georgia on February 3, 2015; and (5) the Wells Fargo located at 6999 Abercorn Street, Savannah, Georgia on March 19, 2015.  

If convicted on all counts, Bowman faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 107 years.  Mr. Tarver emphasized that an indictment is only an accusation and is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The investigation of this case was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Southeast Georgia Violent Crimes Task Force with assistance from the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department, the Richmond Hill Police Department, and the Savannah Parole Office.    Assistant United States Attorney Scarlett S. Nokes is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.  For additional information, please contact First Assistant United States Attorney James D. Durham at (912) 201-2547.