United States Attorney Leura G. Canary Middle District of Alabama

CONVICTED FELON INDICTED FOR BANK ROBBERY AND SHOOTING AT U. S. DEPUTY MARSHALS

MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA— Leura G. Canary, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama, announced on August 16, 2007, that a federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment against Andreas Jejuan Smith, age 26, a resident of Montgomery, Alabama.

In Count One of the indictment, Smith is charged with bank robbery in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(a). According to court documents, on June 22, 2007, Smith entered Compass Bank in Montgomery, Alabama, and handed the teller a demand note. Smith then advised the teller that he had a weapon and robbed the bank of assorted United States Currency. Subsequently, the victim teller positively identified Smith as the robber.

In Count Two of the indictment, Smith is charged with forcibly assaulting United States Deputy Marshals, using a deadly or dangerous weapon, while they were engaged in the performance of their official duties, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 111(b). According to court documents, on July 20, 2007, two United States Deputy Marshals assigned to the United States Marshal’s Service Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force were attempting to serve a state arrest warrant on Smith at a home in Montgomery when he fired two shots through the front door of a residence. The Deputy Marshals entered the residence and observed Smith discard a handgun. Smith further attempted to resist arrest and ultimately was restrained by the Deputy Marshals.

In Count Three of the indictment, Smith is charged with using, carrying, and possessing a firearm during, in relation to, and in furtherance of a crime of violence. Namely, Smith used a firearm when he forcibly assaulted the United States Deputy Marshals in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c).

In Count Four of the indictment, Smith is charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g). The indictment charges that Smith has two prior felony convictions for Receiving Stolen Property in the Circuit Court of Montgomery County, Alabama, but nevertheless possessed a firearm in violation of federal law.

If convicted on all charges, Smith faces a minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. Arraignment has been scheduled for August 28, 2007, and trial has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Montgomery Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jerusha T. Adams will prosecute the case.

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.