Pair of Bank Robbers Sentenced for Armed Bank Robbery

Robbers were Armed with a Gun and Knife and Physically Restrained Bank Employees

Two men who robbed the Citizens State Bank in Hopkinton, Iowa were sentenced today to more than 10 years’ in federal prison.

Daniel Louis Jackson, age 28, from Yonkers, New York, received the prison term after an October 12, 2017, jury verdict finding him guilty of armed bank robbery, conspiracy to commit armed bank robbery, aiding and abetting the use, carrying, and brandishing of a firearm during a crime of violence, and conspiracy to use, carry, and brandish a firearm during a crime of violence.  Jason Centeno, age 22, from Yonkers, New York, received the prison term after a September 14, 2017, guilty plea to armed bank robbery and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

Evidence at trial showed that Jackson and Centeno moved to Muscatine, Iowa, during the summer of 2016.  While in Iowa, they reached an agreement to rob the Citizens State Bank in Hopkinton, Iowa.  Prior to the robbery, Jackson obtained a .38 caliber revolver from an individual in Detroit, Michigan.  Video evidence admitted at trial obtained from a cell phone showed both men using the firearm prior to the robbery.  One video showed Centeno shooting at various residences from the passenger seat of a car driven by Jackson.  A second video showed Jackson and Centeno shooting at what appeared to be an abandoned warehouse.

On the morning of October 21, 2016, Jackson and Centeno drove Jackson’s car from Muscatine to Hopkinton.  Centeno entered the bank brandishing the firearm, while Jackson carried a knife.  Both men jumped over the bank counter and demanded money from the two employees working at the time.  While Centeno collected money from one teller at gun point, Jackson forced the other teller to place her hands behind her back and restrained her using zip ties.  Jackson and Centeno had purchased the zip ties together the day before at the Wal-Mart in Muscatine.  During the robbery, a third bank employee entered the bank.  Jackson also ordered him to place his hands behind his bank and secured his hands with zip ties.  Jackson and Centeno left the bank, taking more than $8,000, and returned to Muscatine.  Jackson and Centeno the fled from Iowa, first to Yonkers, New York, and later to Florida, where they were eventually arrested by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.

Jackson and Centeno were sentenced in Cedar Rapids by Chief United States District Court Leonard T. Strand.  Jackson was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment.  A special assessment of $400 was imposed, and he was ordered to make $8,225 in restitution to the Citizens State Bank.  Centeno was sentenced to 130 months’ imprisonment.  A special assessment of $200 was imposed, and he was ordered to make $8,225 in restitution Citizens State Bank.  Both men must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.  In imposing these sentences, the court noted the “egregious and violent” nature of the offense.

Jackson and Centeno are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until they can be transported to a federal prison.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lisa C. Williams and Jacob Schunk and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, the Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office, the Muscatine Police Department, the Manchester Police Department, the Yonkers Police Department, and the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.