Lexington Man Sentenced to 100 Months for Series of Commercial Robberies

LEXINGTON, Ky. - A Lexington man, Jackie B. Love, 55, was sentenced in federal court on Monday, to 100 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell, for a series of five commercial robberies.

In pleading guilty, Love admitted that he robbed five different businesses around Fayette County, on different occasions, from April 19-25, 2019.  According to his plea agreement, Love entered the business establishments, demanded money from the cash registers and brandished a firearm in at least three of the robberies. Love admitted to taking $1,255, collectively, from the robberies.  The Lexington Police Department arrested Love on April 26, 2019. He pleaded guilty in December 2019.           

 Under federal law, Love must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence and will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge for ATF, Louisville Field Office; and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly made the announcement. 

The investigation was conducted by ATF and Lexington Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Rieker.

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, U.S. Attorney Robert Duncan Jr., coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. Click here for more information about Project Guardian.