Buffalo Men Indicted for Rash of Bank Robberies

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Jason Berg, 22, of Buffalo, New York; Jeffery Turner, 23, of Buffalo, New York; and Donovan Devost, 20, of Buffalo, New York, were separately indicted by the federal grand jury for bank robbery. Each defendant faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Marangola, who is handling the cases, stated that according to the indictments, Jason Berg robbed three banks on April 26, 2013, May 16, 2013, and June 12, 2013. Donovan Devost robbed three banks in Buffalo, New York, on April 30, 2013, June 19, 2013, and June 21, 2013. Jeffery Turner robbed two banks on June 13, 2013, and July 1, 2013.

Although the defendants are currently charged in separate indictments, the eight bank robberies are similar. In each robbery, the suspect passed the tellers a handwritten note, threatening the use of a firearm and other similar language. The defendants will appear for arraignment before Magistrate Judge McCarthy on August 14, 2013 at 11:30 a.m.

The indictments are the result of a joint investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda; the Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief David J. Zack; the Niagara Frontier Transit Authority Police, under the direction of Chief George Gast; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Richard M. Frankel.

The fact that a defendants have been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.