Brothers Sentenced for Roles in Armored Car Robbery

Anchorage, Alaska – Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced that Jafari Lewis-Daniel, 22, and his brother, Jarron Lewis-Daniel, 23, of Anchorage, were sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess for their roles in an armored car robbery in December 2014.

Jafari Lewis-Daniel pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting a bank robbery, and was sentenced yesterday to serve 69 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Jarron Lewis-Daniel pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony, and was sentenced yesterday to serve 18 months in prison, followed by one year of supervised release.

In mid-December 2015, Jafari Lewis-Daniel met with at least two individuals and learned of a plan to rob an armored car. He allowed his white Impala to be used during the robbery, which occurred on Dec. 23, 2015. At least three individuals drove in his white Impala to a Wells Fargo Bank in Anchorage. After the armored car arrived at the bank to deliver money, two men jumped out of Jafari Lewis-Daniel’s vehicle and approached the armored car drivers. One of the robbers pointed a gun at the armored car driver while a second person grabbed a bag of money that was being delivered to the bank. At least one other individual drove away from the bank in Jafari Lewis-Daniel’s vehicle. total, the robbers stole over $230,000. Following the robbery, Jafari Lewis-Daniel and Jarron Lewis-Daniel met with others involved in the robbery and received a cut of the stolen money.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) special agents and Anchorage Police Department (APD) detectives analyzed security video from Wells Fargo to identify Jafari Lewis-Daniel’s Impala. Additional investigation identified multiple cash purchases made by the brothers. These included two vehicles and a motorcycle. The brothers also purchased multiple electronic devices, televisions, and jewelry.

Law enforcement officials executed a search of the apartment the brothers shared in January 2015. During the search, FBI agents found a gun and $18,400 in a duffel bag outside Jafari Lewis-Daniel’s bedroom window. Jafari Lewis-Daniel threw this money out the window when he heard police knocking at his door. In Jarron Lewis-Daniel’s room was $26,000 and a gun. In a third bedroom was nearly $50,000 in loose cash.

In pronouncing the sentences, Judge Burgess emphasized the serious of the crime. “This was a serious crime…this was a robbery of an armored car with armed guards. This could have been disastrous,” said Judge Burgess. Judge Burgess also described the impact this crime had on the victims. “This was a life changing event for the people who had guns stuck in their faces,” said Judge Burgess. “[The victims] can’t do the job they did before because they worry they might end up dead. This has real consequences,” said Judge Burgess. Judge Burgess acknowledged that there remained significant questions surrounding the defendants’ involvement in the robbery, including the identity of the other individuals involved.

This case was the product of an investigation by the FBI and APD. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Reardon prosecuted the case.