Third Federal Prison Term Handed Down for Series of Bank Robberies in Texas and Missouri

United States Attorney Robert Pitman announced that in Waco, 26-year-old Jeffrey Brent Heckman of Macon, Missouri, was sentenced to 65 years in federal prison for a series of bank robberies in Texas and Missouri. In addition to the prison term, United States District Judge Walter S. Smith, Jr. ordered that Heckman pay $29,160 restitution.

On March 8, 2012, Heckman pleaded guilty to two counts of bank robbery with a dangerous weapon, three counts of bank robbery, and one count of carrying a firearm during a crime of violence. By pleading guilty, Heckman admitted to stealing a total of approximately $33,000 during the following bank robberies: the May 19, 2011 robbery of the Bank Northwest in Hamilton, Missouri; the June 1, 2011 robbery of a Preferred Bank in Brookfield, Missouri; June 21, 2011 robbery of the Citizen’s Bank of Blythesdale in Harrison County, Missouri, while carrying a shotgun; the July 8, 2011, robbery of the Merchant’s & Farmer’s Bank, 4000 Rangeline Street, in Columbia, Missouri; and the July 11, 2011 robbery with a dangerous weapon of the Texell Credit Union, 3314 South 31st Street, in Temple, Texas.

On May 17, 2012, Judge Smith sentenced Heckman’s co-defendants 24-year-old Jacob Thomas Norris and 23-year-old Alexia Quentasha Baker, also of Macon, Missouri to 72 months and 41 months in federal prison, respectively, for their roles in the Merchant’s & Farmer’s Bank and Texell Credit Union robberies.

According to court records, from May 18, 2011 until September 5, 2011, the trio conspired to commit several bank robberies in Missouri and Texas before fleeing to Mexico to avoid capture. Court documents further reveal that Norris and Baker, knowing that a bank robbery had been committed, rented hotel rooms in Georgetown, San Antonio, and Laredo and purchased $3,500 in money cards, clothing, and a backpack to facilitate their escape to Mexico. On September 5, 2011, the defendants were arrested by authorities in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The following day, Mexican immigration officials deported them to the United States.

This case was investigated by agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the San Antonio, Kansas City, and St. Louis Divisions along with the Temple (Texas) Police Department and local authorities in Missouri. Assistant United States Attorney Greg Gloff prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

Federal Prison Terms Handed Down to Pair in Connection with Texas and Missouri Bank Robberies

United States Attorney Robert Pitman announced that in Waco, two Macon, Missouri residents were sentenced to federal prison terms for a series of bank robberies in Texas and Missouri last year.

Yesterday afternoon, United States District Judge Walter S. Smith sentenced 24-year-old Jacob Thomas Norris and 23-year-old Alexia Quentasha Baker to 72 months and 41 months in federal prison, respectively. In addition, Judge Smith ordered that the defendants pay a $1,000 fine, $1,627 restitution and be placed under supervised release for a period of five years after completing their prison terms.

On March 8, 2012, Norris and Baker each pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting bank robbery with a dangerous weapon and one count of bank robbery. By pleading guilty, Norris and Baker admitted that they served as the getaway driver and lookout, respectively, while co-defendant Jeffrey Brent Heckman, robbed the Merchant’s & Farmer’s Bank, 4000 Rangeline Street, in Columbia, Missouri on July 8, 2011. They also admitted to aiding and abetting Heckman while he robbed with a dangerous weapon the Texell Credit Union at 3314 South 31st Street, in Temple, Texas three days later.

On the same day that Norris and Baker pleaded guilty, Heckman, age 26, pleaded guilty to two counts of bank robbery with a dangerous weapon, three counts of bank robbery, and one count of carrying a firearm during a crime of violence. By pleading guilty, Heckman admitted to stealing a total of approximately $33,000 during the following bank robberies: the May 19, 2011 robbery of the Bank Northwest in Hamilton, Missouri; the June 1, 2011 robbery of a Preferred Bank in Brookfield, Missouri; June 21, 2011 robbery of the Citizen’s Bank of Blythesdale in Harrison County, Missouri, while carrying a shotgun; and, the Merchant’s & Farmer’s Bank and Texell Credit Union robberies. Heckman is scheduled to be sentenced at 1:00 p.m. on May 31, 2012.

According to court records, from May 18, 2011 until September 5, 2011, the trio conspired to commit several bank robberies in Missouri and Texas before fleeing to Mexico to avoid capture. Court documents further reveal that Norris and Baker, knowing that a bank robbery had been committed, rented hotel rooms in Georgetown, San Antonio, and Laredo and purchased $3,500 in money cards, clothing, and a backpack to facilitate their escape to Mexico. On September 5, 2011, the defendants were arrested by authorities in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The following day, Mexican immigration officials deported them to the United States.

This case was investigated by agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the San Antonio, Kansas City, and St. Louis divisions along with the Temple (Texas) Police Department and local authorities in Missouri. Assistant United States Attorney Greg Gloff is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

FBI and Temple Police Searching for Multi-State Armed Bank Robbers

TEMPLE, TX—FBI Special Agent in Charge Cory B. Nelson announced today that the FBI and Temple Police Department are seeking the public’s help in locating three persons involved in an armed bank robbery spree which began in Hamilton, Missouri on May 19, 2011. Early yesterday, a federal complaint was filed in Waco, Texas, charging Jeffrey Brent Heckman, age 25; Jacob Thomas Norris, age 23; and Alexia Quentasha Baker, age 23, with armed robbery of the Texell Federal Credit Union located at 3314 South 31st Street, Temple, Texas, on July 11, 2011.

Investigation has determined that after the Texell Federal Credit Union robbery, the trio traveled to San Antonio, Texas for a brief period, and then to Laredo, Texas, with the possibility of a crossing into Mexico.

The trio may be traveling with two Boston Terrier dogs, and they may be operating a 2006 Buick Rendezvous SUV (see photo). This investigation is being conducted by the FBI in San Antonio, Kansas City, and St. Louis, as well as local authorities in Missouri and the Temple Police Department. Heckman, Norris, and Baker, are considered armed and dangerous, and any person who encounters them should take no independent action themselves other than to alert the FBI or local authorities.

A federal complaint is a charging document only, and it should not be considered a final determination or evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Persons with any information which may be useful in this investigation are directed to contact the following telephone numbers:

FBI San Antonio—Waco Resident Agency

254-772-1627

FBI San Antonio—Laredo Resident Agency

956-723-4021

Local media inquiries specific to this press release may be addressed through the following points of contact:

FBI Waco Resident Agency,

Special Agent Norman Townsend

254-772-1627

FBI Laredo Resident Agency

Supervisory Special Agent David Villarreal

956-723-4021

Killeen Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison in Kidnapping Case

United States Attorney John E. Murphy and Cory B. Nelson, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - San Antonio Division, announced that in Waco today, 34-year-old Courtney Elizabeth Hernandez, of Killeen, Texas, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release and fined $3,000 in connection with the kidnapping of 2 ½-year-old girl in July of this year.

On October 14, 2010, Hernandez pleaded guilty to one count of kidnapping. By pleading guilty, Hernandez admitted that she kidnapped the child and transported her from Texas to North Carolina. According to court records, the child's mother, a soldier in the United States Army stationed at Fort Hood, left the child with Hernandez to babysit while she prepared for a military move to San Antonio. The child's mother gave the defendant permission to take the child to Teague, Texas, to go camping. On July 5, 2010, the child's mother contacted Hernandez to arrange to pick up her daughter. For several days after promising to return the child, Hernandez stalled and made excuses for not bringing the child home. On July 11, 2010, the child's mother notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation about the kidnapping. Later that day, after matching a description of the defendant's vehicle, Georgia State Patrol officers in Augusta arrested Hernandez and recovered the abducted child.

This case was investigated by special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation together with the Temple Police Department, Teague (TX) Police Department, and the Georgia State Patrol. Assistant United States Attorney Greg Gloff prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

Waco and Temple Bank Robber Sentenced to 51 Years in Federal Prison

United States Attorney John E. Murphy announced that in Waco this afternoon, United States District Judge Walter S. Smith, Jr., sentenced 48-year-old Ronnie Keith Kelley of Dallas, Texas, to 51 years in federal prison and ordered that he pay $590,476.13 restitution for committing two bank robberies in February.

On July 28, 2010, a jury convicted Kelley of two counts of bank robbery, two counts of using a firearm during a bank robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit bank robbery. Based on evidence presented in court, jurors found that on February 2, 2010, Kelley robbed the Independent Bank located on

Bosque Boulevard

in Waco. Jurors also found that nine days later Kelly robbed the Bank of America located on

South General Bruce Drive

in Temple, Texas. Both robberies were carried out at gunpoint.

Kelley’s co-defendant, 48-year-old Benjamin Alexander Potts of Dallas is charged with two counts each of bank robbery and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. No trial date has been scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation together with the Waco and Temple Police Departments. Assistant United States Attorney Greg Gloff is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.