Two Sentenced to Prison for Bellaire Bank Armed Robbery

HOUSTON—Two men who wore masks and carried firearms during the robbery of Guaranty Bank on Jan. 14, 2009, in Bellaire have been sentenced to more than 16 years each in federal prison, United States Attorney Tim Johnson announced today.

Antwaine Joseph Alexander, Jerry Anthony Ramsey and a third co-defendant were indicted Feb. 4, 2009, and charged in a four-count indictment with the Jan. 14, 2009, robbery of the Guaranty Bank and the use of firearms during the robbery. Today, Alexander, 20, and Ramsey, 24, both Houston area residents, were each sentenced to 195 months by United States District Judge Nancy Atlas. 120 months of each sentence is for the use of a firearm.

Alexander pleaded guilty on May 18, 2009, to aggravated bank robbery and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. He admitted to entering the Guaranty Bank on Jan. 14, 2009, carrying an semi-automatic rifle which he discharged while inside the bank. In addition to discharging the weapon, Alexander threw an 83-year-old woman to the ground causing her to break her elbow and suffer dental injuries.

Ramsey pleaded guilty on April 23, 2009, to aggravated bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Ramsey admitted to carrying a .357 caliber revolver when he entered the bank with Alexander and pointing the gun at the manager’s head to force him into the vault area.

Alexander and Ramsey robbed the bank of approximately $13,000. As they left the bank, they entered a car being driven by the third defendant and fled. They were apprehended by the Bellaire Police Department after a short chase.

In addition to the 195-month prison term, Alexander and Ramsey will have to serve five years on supervised release and pay fines of $2000 and special court assessments. The injured woman and the bank manager were present during today’s sentencing hearing. Both weapons were forfeited. The third defendant, Frank Joyce aka Derrick Hills, 24, has also been convicted after pleading guilty to aggravated bank Robbery and carrying a weapon during a crime of violence and is scheduled to be sentenced tomorrow, Nov. 6, 2009. All three defendants have been in custody since their arrest on Jan. 14, 2009.

This case was investigated by the Houston Area bank Robbery Task Force, which is comprised of agents from the FBI, Houston Police Department and Harris County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sherri L. Zack.