Former Tuscaloosa, Alabama Police Sergeant Charged with Civil Rights Violations

A federal grand jury in Birmingham, Ala., today returned a five-count indictment charging former city of Tuscaloosa Police Sergeant Jason Glenn Thomas with federal civil rights offenses in connection with the aggravated sexual assault of a Tuscaloosa woman in 2011, announced Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, Joyce White Vance, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, and Patrick J. Maley, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Birmingham Field Office.

 Thomas is charged with violating the constitutional rights of a Tuscaloosa woman by sexually assaulting her in March 2011.  The indictment also charges Thomas with obstruction of justice based upon misleading statements that he provided to law enforcement officers during the investigation of the sexual assault allegations.

 Thomas faces a possible maximum sentence of life in prison and a fine in excess of $1 million.

 This case is being investigated by the Tuscaloosa resident agency of the FBI’s Birmingham Field Office, and is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney D.W. Tunnage of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney George Martin for the District of Alabama.

 An indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Tuscaloosa Brothers Indicted and Arrested for Armed Robberies

TUSCALOOSA—Law enforcement officers today arrested two Tuscaloosa brothers on charges related to a string of December robberies in Tuscaloosa County, U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and FBI Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Maley announced.

A federal grand jury last week indicted Kesharn Battle, 20, and Trevon Battle, 18, in connection to four gas station convenience store robberies. This morning, the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, including FBI agents and members of the Tuscaloosa Sheriff’s Office and the Tuscaloosa Police Department, arrested the brothers without incident at their Tuscaloosa residence.

Detention hearings for both men are scheduled Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul W. Greene.

Kesharn Battle is charged with robbery at four stores. He faces a firearms charge in three of the robberies. Trevon Battle is charged with robbery at one store.

According to the May 2 indictment, the Battles took part in store robberies as follows:

On December 8, 2011, Kesharn Battle and two accomplices entered the University Chevron located at 9916 North Highway 11 in Cottondale. A pistol was brandished and about $570, cigarettes, and cell phone chargers were stolen.

On December 16, 2011, Kesharn Battle and two accomplices entered the Springbrook Chevron located at 3212 East McFarland Boulevard in Tuscaloosa. A firearm was brandished in an attempt to rob the store.

On December 18, 2011, Kesharn Battle and one accomplice entered the Coaling Marathon Oil gas station located at 15301 Highway 11 in Coaling. A firearm was brandished and about $1,251 was stolen.

On December 21, 2011, Kesharn Battle and Trevon Battle worked with two accomplices to rob the Big Sandy Food Mart located at 15239 Highway 69 South in Moundville. The robbers brandished a firearm and stole about $300 and cigarettes.

The FBI, Tuscaloosa Sheriff’s Office, Tuscaloosa Police Department, and the Coaling Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph P. Montminy is prosecuting the case.

The FBI’s Safe Streets program is designed to eliminate threats and violence in communities across the country. Through the Safe Streets Task Forces, the FBI partners with state, local, and other federal law enforcement to target violent criminals, gangs, and criminal enterprises.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove a defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

Montgomery Man Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Prison for Five Bank Robberies

BIRMINGHAM—U.S. District Judge Virginia Emerson Hopkins today sentenced a Montgomery man to 12 years and seven months in prison for five bank robberies in Alabama, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and FBI Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Maley.

NATHAN H. JENKINS JR., 50, pleaded guilty in June to committing four bank robberies in Tuscaloosa and one in Auburn between April 2009 and October 2010.

A federal jury indicted Jenkins in March 2011 for the October 7, 2010 armed robbery of the Bank of Tuscaloosa on North McFarland Circle. He pleaded guilty to that robbery, acknowledging he entered the bank, brandished a toy pistol, demanded money from bank tellers, and stole about $8,000.

Jenkins also pleaded guilty to three additional bank robberies in Tuscaloosa, which prosecutors charged him with after the 2011 indictment. Those robberies all took place at Cadence Bank on McFarland Boulevard North. Jenkins robbed that bank on April 23, 2009, taking about $17,703; August 14, 2009, taking about $8,782; and again on October 23, 2009, taking about $12,501.

Jenkins attempted to rob a bank in Auburn in 2010 and pleaded guilty to bank robbery in that case. His robbery attempt at the Bank of Auburn on October 5, 2010 was broken up by bank security officers before Jenkins was able to obtain any money. The Auburn case was transferred in federal court from the Middle to the Northern District of Alabama.

Jenkins was indicted for the Bank of Tuscaloosa robbery along with Tracey Padgett, 48, of Montgomery. Padgett was charged as an accessory after the fact for trying to hide the stolen money in her purse immediately after the robbery. She pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced in August to one year and a day in prison.

“Jenkins went on a manic crime spree in which he robbed the same Tuscaloosa bank three times within six months and robbed another Tuscaloosa bank only three days after being shot at by bank security guards in Auburn who thwarted his robbery attempt there,” Vance said. “Jenkins endangered everyone in these banks and spread fear throughout these college communities. Fortunately, through the combined efforts of local law enforcement and the FBI, this dangerous criminal was captured and convicted of these crimes.”

“I am proud of the investigative efforts of our agents and the Tuscaloosa and Auburn police departments, who worked diligently to bring this violent felon to justice,” Maley said.

The FBI and the Tuscaloosa and Auburn police departments investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Terence M. O’Rourke prosecuted it.

Montgomery Man Pleads Guilty to Five Bank Robberies

BIRMINGHAM—A Montgomery man pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to four bank robberies in Tuscaloosa and one in Auburn, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and FBI Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Maley.

NATHAN H. JENKINS JR., 49, pleaded guilty to the robberies before U.S. District Judge Virginia Emerson Hopkins. His sentencing is scheduled Sept. 28.

Jenkins was indicted in March for the Oct. 7, 2010, armed robbery of the Bank of Tuscaloosa on North McFarland Circle. He pleaded guilty to that robbery, acknowledging he entered the bank, brandished a toy pistol, demanded money from bank tellers, and stole about $8,000.

Jenkins also pleaded guilty to three additional bank robberies in Tuscaloosa, which prosecutors charged him with following the March indictment. Those robberies all took place at Cadence Bank on McFarland Boulevard North. Jenkins pleaded guilty to the following robberies at the Cadence Bank: April 23, 2009, taking about $17,703; Aug. 14, 2009, taking about $8,782; and Oct. 23, 2009, taking about $12,501.

Additionally, Jenkins pleaded guilty to a bank robbery in Auburn. He attempted to rob the Bank of Auburn on Oct. 5, 2010. That robbery was broken up by bank security officers before Jenkins was able to obtain any money. The Auburn case was transferred to federal court in the Northern District of Alabama from the Middle District.

Jenkins was indicted for the Bank of Tuscaloosa robbery along with TRACEY PADGETT, 47, of Montgomery. Padgett was charged as an accessory after the fact for trying to hide the stolen money in her purse immediately after the robbery. She pleaded guilty to the charge April 20.

“These defendants caused fear and trepidation throughout Alabama for two years,” Vance said. “It was only through the combined efforts of local law enforcement and the FBI, across jurisdictional lines, that the duo were brought to justice and those fears were allayed,” she said.

The maximum sentence for armed bank robbery is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum sentence for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence is seven years in prison, consecutive to the robbery sentence, and a $250,000 fine. The maximum sentence for accessory after the fact is 10 years in prison and a $125,000 fine.

The FBI and the Tuscaloosa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Terence M. O’Rourke is prosecuting it.

Montgomery Man and Woman Indicted in Connection with Tuscaloosa Bank Robbery

BIRMINGHAM—A federal grand jury today indicted a Montgomery man for the armed robbery of a Tuscaloosa bank and indicted a Montgomery woman for assisting him after the robbery, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and FBI Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Maley.

The indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges NATHAN H. JENKINS JR., 49, with armed bank robbery and with brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The indictment charges TRACEY PADGETT, 47, as an accessory after the fact by offering Jenkins relief or assistance in order to hinder or prevent his apprehension.

“Protecting public places of commerce and accommodation is always foremost in the mind of law enforcement,” Vance said. “Our citizens need to feel safe in their daily comings and goings, no matter the circumstances. An uneasy economy is no excuse for the commission of bank robberies. Tough times will not weaken our enforcement posture, especially when dangerous weapons are involved,” she said.

According to the indictment, Jenkins entered the Bank of Tuscaloosa on

North McFarland Circle

on Oct. 7, brandished a pistol, and robbed the bank of more than $8,000. Padgett is charged in one count of the three-count indictment with assisting Jenkins after the robbery.

The maximum sentence for armed bank robbery is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum sentence for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence is seven years in prison, consecutive to the robbery sentence, and a $250,000 fine. The maximum sentence for accessory after the fact is 10 years in prison and a $125,000 fine.

The FBI and the Tuscaloosa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Terence M. O’Rourke is prosecuting it.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove a defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.