United States Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña
Northern District of Texas

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txn/

ARMORED CAR ROBBERS SENTENCED

DALLAS — Several defendants who committed the May 10, 2010, armed robbery of a Loomis armored truck in Mesquite, Texas, were sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn to lengthy federal prison sentences, announced U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.

Four of the eleven conspirators, who are Dallas residents, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated bank robbery with a deadly weapon. Christopher Peterson, 24, was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison; Fred Taylor, 22, was sentenced to 96 months (consecutive to a 3 year sentence he received earlier this year for another federal offense); Jeremy Wright, 28, was sentenced to 72 months; and Frederick Peterson, 25, was sentenced to 48 months.

According to documents filed in the case, these defendants admitted that they, and their accomplices, took $421,000 from a Loomis armored truck at the Bank of America, located at 1400 North Town East Boulevard in Mesquite. While Fred Taylor initiated the idea of the armored truck robbery, these four defendants, along with several co-defendant/accomplices, planned the robbery. According to the defendants, a Bank of America employee advised Taylor what time the armored truck would be at the bank and how much money it would be carrying.

On the day of the robbery, the defendants met at a McDonalds to finalize the details of the robbery. Five different vehicles were used to transport the defendants to the bank. Surveillance was set up at several points to ensure there were no police in the area. When the Loomis truck arrived, the guard entered the bank and left with $421,000. Two defendants jumped out of a car, approached the guard, pointed a gun at his head, and took the money he was carrying. A co-defendant/ accomplice arrived and two of the robbers left with him. All of the robbers left the scene and some later met to divide the money. Many of the defendants were quickly apprehended. Months later DNA results led to three additional arrests. Christopher Peterson, Frederick Peterson, and Ennis Jackson initially got away. The day after the bank robbery they purchased three luxury vehicles and jewelry. One vehicle was a 7 series BMW, with $20,000 in custom upgrades, including alligator embroidered stitching throughout the car.

Earlier this month, Ronald McQuire, the getaway driver was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison for his role in the robbery and Nicholas Pyburn, who conducted surveillance, was sentenced to 48 months. Other sentencings in the case are set for next month.

The case was investigated by the FBI and Mesquite Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon McCarthy and John Kull are prosecuting.

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