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Press Release

Last Of Armored Car Robbery Crew Pleads Guilty

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Georgia

ATLANTA - Quentin Booker who participated in five robberies of armored car couriers in the Metro Atlanta area, pleaded guilty today to the charges of aiding and abetting the armed robberies, and aiding and abetting the carrying and use of a firearm during the commission of those crimes of violence. 

“These violent robberies terrorized the community,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates. “This is not the Wild West where robbers ride off into glory after a heist.  This is reality.  Violent criminals like these will be caught, and prosecuted, even the lookouts.”

Ricky Maxwell, Acting Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office, stated: “Today’s guilty plea brings some degree of closure to those many local, state and federal investigators and prosecutors who worked many long hours on this matter but the victims left in the wake of this violent robbery crew will live the rest of their lives with the scars inflicted by these robbers.  The FBI will continue to work with its various law enforcement partners in ensuring that our streets are rid of such callous criminals.”

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: The defendant, Quentin Booker, was part of a group who robbed armored car couriers between October 7, 2010, and March 30, 2011.  During the robberies, one or two gunmen would approach a courier after the courier made a cash pick-up from a location or as the courier was about to restock an ATM machine with cash.  Other members of the robbery crew would act as lookouts during the robberies, with one being the designated getaway driver.  Altogether, members of this crew were responsible for six robberies in which over $470,000 in cash was taken. 

The evidence established that Booker specifically acted as a lookout during five robberies:

  • The robbery of a Dunbar Armored courier just after he made a cash pick-up on October 7, 2010, at the Mex America Latino Services located in Marietta, Ga.
  • The robbery of a Dunbar Armored courier who was restocking cash in an ATM machine on November 11, 2010, at a Bank of America located in Buford, Ga.
  • The robbery of a Loomis Armored courier who was restocking cash in an ATM machine on November 29, 2010, at a Wells Fargo Bank located in Snellville, Ga.
  • The robbery of a Dunbar Armored courier who was heading to an ATM machine to restock it with cash inside the Mall of Georgia on December 7, 2010.
  • The robbery of a Loomis Armored courier who was restocking cash in an ATM machine on January 21, 2011, at a Wells Fargo Bank located in Stone Mountain, Ga.  This courier was shot and seriously injured during the robbery.

In addition to these robberies, members of this robbery group, Stacey Dooley and Ashley Henderson, along with Ronnie Little committed a sixth armed robbery on March 15, 2011, outside the Kroger’s Grocery Store located on LaVista Road in DeKalb County, Ga.  During the commission of that robbery, Garda Cash Logistics courier Gary Castillo was fatally shot after making a cash pick-up of $11,000. 

Booker, 36, of Douglasville, Ga., pleaded guilty to five counts of Hobbs Act robbery (armed robbery of the couriers), and two counts of carrying and using a firearm during the commission of a violent crime.   

In addition to Booker, the following persons have also entered guilty pleas as a result of their role in the robberies:

  • Ashley Henderson, 29, of Snellville, Ga., pleaded guilty to six counts of Hobbs Act Robbery, two counts of carrying and using a firearm during the commission of a violent crime, and one count of causing the death of another through the use of a firearm.
  • Stacey Dooley, 37, of Snellville, Ga., pleaded guilty to six counts of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of carrying and using a firearm during the commission of a violent crime, and one count of causing the death of another through the use of a firearm.
  • Edwin Thornton, 31, of Atlanta, Ga., pleaded guilty to three counts of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of carrying and using of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime.
  • Derrick Powell, 26, of Atlanta, Ga., pleaded guilty to two counts of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of carrying and using a firearm during the commission of a violent crime.
  • Michael Johnson, 31, of Atlanta, Ga., pleaded guilty to two counts of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of carrying and using a firearm during the commission of a violent crime.
  • Ronnie Little, 22, of Stone Mountain, Ga., pleaded guilty to one count of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of carrying and using a firearm during the commission of a violent crime.
  • Veronica Bullard, 35, of Lithia Springs, Ga., pleaded guilty to one count of Hobbs Act robbery.
  • Desiree Jones, 29, of Snellville, Ga., pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawfully transferring a firearm knowing it would be used in a crime of violence.  

           
Booker’s sentencing is scheduled for May 19, 2014, before United States District Judge Thomas W. Thrash.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with significant assistance and resources provided by the Gwinnett Police Department.   Other departments providing invaluable assistance were the Gwinnett County District Attorney's Office, DeKalb County Police Department, the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office, Marietta Police Department, and the Cobb County District Attorney's Office.

Assistant United States Attorneys Tracia M. King and Jill E. Steinberg 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 home page for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia Atlanta Division is http://www.justice.gov/usao/gan/.

Updated April 8, 2015