U.S. Department
of Justice
Man Pleads Guilty to Nine Robberies in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama
Acting U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that CHRISTOPHER SIMMS, age 31, of New Orleans, pled guilty last week to a nine-count superseding Bill of Information for bank robbery and armed robbery, and a one-count Indictment for bank robbery.
According to the court documents, SIMMS robbed nine establishments between January 12, 2016 and February 8, 2016. SIMMS’S robberies included three McDonald’s Restaurant locations in New Orleans; a McDonald’s Restaurant in Kenner; a Dollar General store in Metairie; an Iberia Bank in Metairie; a Compass Bank in Mobile, Alabama; and a convenience store in Silver Creek Mississippi. SIMMS was charged with seven counts of Hobbs Act robbery, two counts of bank robbery, and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
As to each robbery count, SIMMS faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a fine of $250,000, three years supervised release after imprisonment, and a $100 special assessment. As to the firearm count, SIMMS faces a consecutive minimum term of imprisonment of seven years up to a maximum term of imprisonment of life, a fine of $250,000, five years supervised release after imprisonment, and a $100 special assessment. U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon set sentencing for September 21, 2017.
Acting U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Orleans Police Department, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Lawrence County, Mississippi Sheriff’s Office in investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Maria M. Carboni is in charge of the prosecution.