Two Men Indicted for Series of Armed Robberies and Brandishing a Short-Barreled Shotgun

Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that two men were indicted by a federal grand jury in Anchorage for multiple armed robberies including the armed robbery of Wells Fargo Bank on Aug. 18, 2016.

Kaleem Tikori Fredericks, 23, of Anchorage, and Calel Calvis Alexis Crofford, 23, of Dallas, Texas, were charged in an eight-count indictment that includes charges of armed bank robbery, brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, conspiracy to commit interference with commerce by robbery, and interference with commerce by robbery, together with three forfeiture allegations.

According to the indictment, Fredericks and Crofford were armed with a short-barreled shotgun and a BB gun, which they used to intimidate bank personnel and customers, and obtained over $25,000 in bank funds during the robbery of Wells Fargo Bank on Aug. 18, 2016.  In the week prior, Fredericks and Crofford had conspired to commit a series of armed robberies in Anchorage to include several liquor stores, a gas station, and on the morning of Aug. 18, they also robbed a jewelry store.  Fredericks’ phone revealed internet searches for “mountain view robbery,” “how to rob banks,” “how to sell diamonds for cash,” and “anchorage for sale ‘guns.’”

The series of robberies as alleged in the indictment are as follows:

• Aug. 11, 2016 – Fredericks and Crofford robbed the Captain Sparrow Liquor Store located at 1100 W. Benson Boulevard, using a short-barreled shotgun;
• Aug. 14, 2016 – Fredericks and Crofford robbed the Brown Jug Liquor Store located at 525 W. Fireweed Lane, using a short-barreled shotgun;
• Aug. 15, 2016 – Fredericks and Crofford robbed the Tesoro Gas Station located at 545 Muldoon Road, using a short-barreled shotgun;
• Aug. 15. 2016 – Fredericks and Crofford robbed the Brown Jug Liquor Store located at 119 Klevin Street, using a short-barreled shotgun;
• Aug. 18, 2016 – Fredericks and Crofford robbed the Jewelry World kiosk at the Dimond Center Mall; and
• Aug. 18, 2016 – Fredericks and Crofford robbed Wells Fargo Bank, using a short-barreled shotgun and a BB gun.

The investigation revealed that on Aug. 18, Fredericks and Crofford drove to Girdwood, Alaska, and disposed of the short-barreled shotgun, a backpack, and some of the clothes worn during the armed robberies.  On that same day, they had purchased airline tickets and traveled to the Ted Stevens International Airport together in order to flee to St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Yvonne Lamoureux, who presented the case to the grand jury, indicated that the law provides for a maximum sentence for the armed bank robbery of up to 25 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both, plus an additional 35 years on the gun charges.  Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.

U.S. Attorney Loeffler commended the FBI, ATF, and APD, who conducted the investigation, as well as the Anchorage Airport Police for their assistance, leading to the indictment in this case.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.