Three Serial Robbers Sentenced

Three people who engaged in a series of armed robberies in Solon, Bedford, and Cleveland last year were each given lengthy prison sentences, Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, announced today.

Tony A. Bankhead, II, 26, of Solon, was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He previously pleaded guilty to four counts of interfering with commerce by robbery and two counts of carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

Brittney E. Burks, 22, of Toledo, was sentenced to more than 17 years in prison. She previously pleaded guilty to four counts of interfering with commerce by robbery and two counts of carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

Keith J. Freeman, 23, of Toledo, was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison. He previously pleaded guilty to three counts of interfering with commerce by robbery and one count of carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

"This band traveled around the region robbing and threatening people," Dettelbach said. "These long sentences should send a clear message to those who would use a firearm in a crime."

The charges arose out of the armed robberies of Donato's Pizzeria in Solon, Ohio on May 23, 2010; of a KFC restaurant in Cleveland on June 5, 2010; the Blue Fig restaurant in Solon on June 6, 2010; and the attempted robbery of the Cleveland Jewelry Exchange in Bedford, Ohio on June 7, 2010.

Bankhead and Burks admitted to their involvement in all four robberies, while Freeman was involved in only the robberies of the KFC, Blue Fig, and Cleveland Jewelry Exchange.

In each robbery, two men entered the business and pointed guns at employees, demanding money, while the third conspirator waited outside to drive the getaway car. The defendants were successful in the first three robberies, but were unsuccessful in the attempted robbery of the Cleveland Jewelry Exchange when the owner pulled out his own firearm, causing them to flee. The getaway driver was caught shortly thereafter by Bedford Police Department officers.

In the ensuing investigation, Bedford and Solon Police Department officers suspected a connection between the robbery attempt in Bedford and the robberies in Solon. A joint investigation commenced involving the Solon Police Department, Bedford Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Cleveland-Cuyahoga Violent Crimes Task Force. The joint investigation identified and located the other defendants and linked the Solon and Bedford robberies to the KFC robbery in Cleveland.

The case was then prosecuted by the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio with the assistance and cooperation of the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office. A fourth defendant, Marvin Smith, of Cleveland, Ohio, has also been indicted on federal charges related to the robbery of the Donato's Pizzeria in Solon on May 23. His case has been set for trial on May 16.

The indictment against Smith is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew W. Shepherd and Special Assistant United States Attorney Brett Kyker.