United States Attorney
Northern District of Texas

1100 Commerce St., 3rd Fl.
Dallas, Texas 75242-1699

Telephone (214) 659-8600
Fax (214) 767-0978

ANOTHER SERIAL BANK ROBBER ADMITS GUILT

One of the men charged with committing a string of bank and credit union robberies that occurred in Lubbock pleaded guilty today in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper. David Aaron Johnson, age 22, of Amarillo, Texas, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated credit union robbery and one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. As part of the plea agreement, Johnson agreed that the appropriate disposition of his case regarding the term of imprisonment is 240 months imprisonment as to count eight and a consecutive 84 months imprisonment as to count nine for a total term of imprisonment of 324 months (27 years). Johnson, who entered his plea before the Honorable Sam R. Cummings, United States District Judge, faces a maximum statutory sentence of life imprisonment. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Johnson was charged along with co-defendants James Edwards Peacock, age 62, Erica Nicole Edwards, age 22, James Glen Horton, age 39, and Ivin Darrell Wozencraft, age 41, in a 10-count superseding indictment that charged each of the five defendants with conspiracy to commit bank and credit union robbery and other crimes stemming from a string of bank and credit union robberies that occurred in Lubbock from April 2004 through January 2006. All defendants are in federal custody. Erica Nicole Edwards pleaded guilty two weeks ago to one count of aggravated credit union robbery and faces a maximum statutory sentence of 25 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. Her sentencing date has not yet been set.

In documents filed in Court, Johnson admitted that on January 26, 2006, he, James Edward Peacock and Erica Nicole Edwards robbed the Plains Bell Federal Credit Union (PBFCU) at 2545 74th Street in Lubbock, Texas, of approximately $15,648.00 and in the process jeopardized the lives of the credit union’s employees by using a firearm, a Colt, Model Official Police CTG, .38 caliber revolver, during the robbery.

On January 25, 2006, James Edward Peacock, David Aaron Johnson, and Erica Nicole Edwards went to Lubbock in Peacock’s car and checked into the Motel 6, 909 66th Street, in Lubbock. The three went to the PBFCU, parked across the street, and watched the employees leave PBFCU. Johnson and Edwards walked up to PBFCU after it was closed and looked inside to get familiar with the layout of the credit union. The three then returned to the Motel 6.

At approximately 10:15 a.m. the next day, Edwards and Johnson rushed through the main door and into the lobby of PBFCU. Both Johnson and Edwards were wearing disguises. Johnson pointed the Colt revolver at a teller and demanded the money from this teller’s drawer and yelled “whoever needs to open the safe, open the safe!” Another teller exited an office and began walking toward the safe. Johnson ordered Edwards to follow this second teller to the safe and Edwards complied. Edwards told this teller “big bills only,” while this teller removed a drawer containing U.S. currency from the safe. As the teller was taking the currency out of the drawer, Edwards pushed this teller aside and grabbed $12,953.00 in currency, placed it in a bag and then left the safe room.

Meanwhile, Johnson ordered yet another teller out of an office and instructed this teller to lie on the floor. The first teller placed all of the U.S. currency from the drawer onto the counter and Johnson grabbed the money and put it in his pants pocket, ordering the first teller to also lay on the floor. The total amount taken in the PBFCU robbery was $15,648.00.

Johnson and Edwards left PBFCU through the front doors and fled on foot. Johnson and Edwards then met up with Peacock, who was driving the getaway vehicle. Johnson and Edwards got into the trunk of Peacock’s vehicle and the three returned to the Motel 6. There, Peacock, Edwards, and Johnson checked the money for tracking devices and dye packs. After ensuring that neither were present, the three returned to Peacock’s residence in Amarillo, Texas.

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Lubbock Police Department, and the Amarillo Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey R. Haag.

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