11-10-05 -- Jackson, Jr., Bruce K. -- Sentencing -- News Release

Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 72 Months In Prison for Robbing Five Banks

CAMDEN - A 19-year-old Philadelphia man was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison today for committing five bank robberies, three in southern New Jersey and two in Philadelphia, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

U.S. District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez also ordered Bruce K. Jackson, Jr., to pay $ 5670 in restitution and to serve three years of supervised release upon the completion of his prison sentence.

Jackson entered his plea before Judge Rodriguez on March 24, 2005. Jackson pleaded guilty to two separate Informations, a three-count Information charging him with three bank robberies committed in New Jersey and a two-count Information, which was transferred from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, that charges Jackson with two bank robberies committed in Philadelphia.

At his plea hearing, Jackson admitted that on Jan. 6, 2004, he entered a Commerce Bank branch located on Lombard Street in Philadelphia. Upon entering the bank, Jackson presented a bank teller with a note that demanded money. Jackson admitted that after the teller handed him money from the teller's draw he fled with approximately $3,230. Two days later, Jackson entered a Commerce Bank branch located on South Broad Street in Philadelphia and presented a teller with a note that demanded money, Jackson admitted. He admitted that the teller gave him money from the teller's draw and that he fled the bank with $1,240.

Jackson also admitted that on Jan. 23, 2004, he entered a Commerce Bank branch on Haddonfield Road in Cherry Hill and presented a demand note to a teller. The teller handed Jackson approximately $500 and he fled the bank, Jackson admitted.

Jackson also admitted that on Feb. 7, 2004, he entered a Commerce Bank branch on Route 70 in Evesham Township, and using the same modus operandi, robbed the bank of $700. Furthermore, Jackson admitted that on Feb.13 he entered the same Evesham bank branch and presented a teller with a note demanding $2,000. According to Jackson, the teller took the demand note and left teller station. Bank employees recognized the robber as the same individual from the Feb. 7 robbery and immediately contacted law enforcement by alarm and telephone, according to the Criminal Complaint charging Jackson on Feb. 17, 2004. Jackson departed the bank on foot and entered the rear seat of a waiting taxicab. Bank employees were able to provided a description of the taxicab to law enforcement. A short distance away, law enforcement stopped the taxicab.

In determining the actual sentence, Judge Rodriguez consulted the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges that take into account the severity and characteristics of the offense, the defendant's criminal history, if any, and other factors. The judge, however, is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence.

Parole has been abolished in the federal system. Defendants who are given federal custodial terms must serve nearly all that time.

Christie credited Special Agents of the FBI Trenton Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Leslie Wiser, Jr., in Newark, and Special Agents of the FBI Philadelphia Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge John C. Eckenrode, with developing the investigation.

The Government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald Chillemi of the U.S. Attorney's Office Criminal Division in Camden.

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Defense Attorney: Chris O'Malley, Esq. Federal Public Defender's Office