Jerry Bowman Arrested for Armed Robbery of Carter County Bank

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On October 17, 2018, Jerry Bowman, 58, of Johnson City, Tennessee, was arrested for the robbery of the Carter County Bank on Milligan Highway in Johnson City, Tennessee. 

U.S. Magistrate Judge Clifton L. Corker issued a criminal complaint, charging Bowman with the armed robbery of the bank and with brandishing a firearm in furtherance of the robbery.  The complaint, on file with the U.S. District Court, alleges that at approximately 1:30 p.m. on October 17, 2018, Bowman entered the Carter County Bank branch, displayed a firearm, and demanded money from the bank tellers.  After taking the cash from the tellers, Bowman fled in a blue Ford Fusion.  Later that evening, officers stopped a blue Ford Fusion, being driven by another individual, who admitted to residing with Bowman and knowing about the robbery.  That stop led to the arrest of Bowman at his residence, where officers recovered money taken in the robbery and the firearm he used. 

If convicted, Bowman faces up to 25 years in prison for the robbery.  Additionally, he faces a consecutive mandatory minimum sentence of seven years up to life for the firearms charge.  Upon his release from prison, he will be subject to up to five years of supervised release by U.S. Probation.

The investigation leading to the arrest was the product of the combined efforts of the Elizabethton Police Department, Carter County Sheriff’s Office, Johnson City Police Department, and FBI.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Gregory Bowman will represent the United States in court proceedings.

Members of the public are reminded that a complaint constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until his or her guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a comprehensive national strategy that creates local partnerships with law enforcement agencies to effectively enforce existing gun laws.  It provides more options to prosecutors, allowing them to utilize local, state, and federal laws to ensure that criminals who commit gun crime face tough sentences.  PSN gives each federal district the flexibility it needs to focus on individual challenges that a specific community faces. 

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