United States Attorney
Northern District of Texas

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

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

BANK ROBBERS WHO WERE HURRICANE KATRINA
EVACUEES PLEAD GUILTY IN FEDERAL COURT

Three of the Defendants Face Up to Life in Prison

DALLAS - Four men, who evacuated New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, have pled guilty in federal court in Dallas to their role in a December 2006 armed bank robbery in Dallas, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas.

Yesterday, Ken Joseph Harrison, 39, pled guilty to one count of bank robbery with a deadly weapon and one count of using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during or in relation to, a crime of violence. Last month, defendants Isaac Sabatier, 22, and Marvin Wayne Birtha, 43, pled guilty to the same charges. In February, defendant Gregory Denson, 42, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank robbery. Harrison, Sabatier and Birtha each face a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison and Denson faces a maximum statutory sentence of five years in prison. All could be ordered to pay fines and restitution. All four defendants will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay within the next few months.

On the morning of Saturday, December 16, 2006, Harrison, Birtha and Sabatier drove to the Chase Bank located at 2325 Gus Thomasson Road in Dallas with the express intent to rob it. They, along with co-defendant Denson, discussed and planned the robbery. After arriving at the bank in Denson’s vehicle, which they planned to use as the get-away vehicle, Harrison, Birtha and Sabatier, each armed with a handgun, entered the bank. Harrison and Sabatier stood near the front entrance and in the lobby area with weapons drawn while Birtha approached the teller stations. Birtha jumped over the teller counter and ordered all employees to the floor; he then began taking U.S. currency from the teller drawers and placing it into a plastic bag. Afterwards, all three fled the bank and drove away in the vehicle they had borrowed from Denson. They drove to an apartment complex on South Buckner in Dallas, where they were arrested.

U.S. Attorney praised the excellent investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Dallas Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rick Calvert.

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