Perpetrators of Multiple Armed Robberies at Atlanta Wal-Mart Stores and a Citgo Food Mart Have Been Arraigned

ATLANTA - Kesia Quinette Jackson, Deanthony L. Foster, and Makisha Renee Sanders have been arraigned on charges of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, armed robber, and use of a firearm during a crime of violence arising from multiple armed robberies of Wal-Mart stores, and a Citgo food mart that took place between May and October, 2015. 

“Armed robberies are dangerous events that traumatize the victims and sow fears throughout the community, and these effects are magnified when the robbers victimize multiple locations over time,” said U. S. Attorney John Horn.  “We hope the arrests and indictments in this case will restore the security felt by the employees and customers of these stores, as well as the surrounding neighborhoods.”

“The allegations contained in these indictments clearly illustrated the need to prioritize this investigation and to have those responsible identified and apprehended. With the federal indictments and this morning’s arrests, that was accomplished.  Numerous jurisdictions were impacted by these multiple commercial armed robberies creating certain challenges for investigators.  Those challenges were, however,  overcome as a direct result of the hard work and determination of the many officers and agents representing numerous metro Atlanta area law enforcement agencies working together with the FBI’s Atlanta Metro Major Offender (AMMO) Task Force,” said J. Britt Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office.

According to U.S. Attorney Horn, the charges, and other information presented in court: The defendants allegedly targeted Wal-Mart stores and a Citgo Food Mart in different areas of the Atlanta, Georgia metropolitan area for the purpose of robbing the employees of cash at gunpoint.  Jackson and Sanders acted as scouts or lookouts prior to the robberies by entering the stores and posing as customers in order to determine when employees were removing cash from the self-checkout registers. They would then contact the defendant Foster.  The three defendants used cellular telephones to maintain communication with each other prior to and during the commission of the armed robberies.  Foster would then enter the stores wearing a surgical mask and using a firearm to rob the employees of cash.  In the last robbery, he discharged the firearm into the floor near the employees. 

Kesia Quinette Jackson, 44, Deanthony L. Foster, 27, and Makisha Renee Sanders, 42, all of Atlanta, Georgia, were arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Janet F. King.  All three were indicted by a federal grand jury on April 13, 2016.

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

This case is being investigated by the FBI.

AUSAs Katherine M. Hoffer and Jessica Morris are prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.