Orlando Serial Robber Found Guilty of Two Armed Bank Robberies and Armed Carjacking

ORLANDO, FL—U.S. Attorney A. Brian Albritton announces that a federal jury today returned a verdict of guilty against Joseph Emanuel (age 37, of Orlando) for two bank robberies, a carjacking and three firearms offenses associated with the three violent crimes. Emanuel faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. Emanuel's sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 7, 2010.

According to the evidence presented at trial, Emanuel helped commit two armed bank robberies in Ocoee on consecutive Saturdays in June 2009. Emanuel recruited Stephenson Peltier and Eric Jackson to rob the Ocoee Washington Mutual bank on East Silver Star road in Ocoee. On June 6, 2009, at approximately 11:00 a.m. Emanuel provided Jackson and Peltier with his silver handgun and a Mac-10 styled firearm, gloves, a mask and acted as the getaway driver. After the bank robbery, he split the proceeds with the other men. Jackson entered the bank with the silver gun and demanded money from the teller, while Peltier used the Mac-10 styled firearm to hold the customers and other employees at bay. Approximately twenty customers and employees were in the bank during the robbery including several young children. Emanuel bragged about the robbery after it was completed.

Emanuel later recruited Jackson, who in turn recruited Adrian Ware, to commit another bank robbery on June 13, 2009 at approximately 11:00 a.m. at the Suntrust on Ocoee-Apopka road in Ocoee. Again, Emanuel provided the weapons. This time, Emanuel entered the bank with the Mac-10 styled firearm while Jackson used Emanuel's silver handgun to get the money from the teller. Emanuel threatened to kill the other employees while he held them at bay, allowing Jackson to get money from the teller, and brandished the Mac-10. Ware acted as the getaway driver.

During the execution of a search warrant at Emanuel's home in July 2009, the Ocoee Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Violent Crime Task Force located ammunition, a gun cleaning kit and a ski mask in Emanuel's bedroom. Additionally, a stolen car was found in the garage. The car had been reported stolen in an armed carjacking. After the car was located, the victim identified Emanuel as his assailant. Another accomplice, James Griffin, admitted to helping Emanuel carjack the victim.

Jackson, Peltier, Griffin and Ware all pled guilty and face potential life sentences.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Violent Crime Task Force, Ocoee Police Department, Winter Park Police Department, Orange County Sheriff's Office, Orlando Police Department, and Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Bishop Ravenel.