A Georgia man and woman have been convicted for a crime spree in which they robbed a bank and tried to escape in a stolen car.
According to a June 21 news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office Northern District of Georgia, Quantavious Cedron Arnold and Ericka Brewster were charged in the November 2019 crime spree.
“Outstanding coordination between the FBI and local law enforcement ended Arnold’s crime spree,” U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan said in the news release. “This office will continue to target individuals like Arnold and Brewster who perpetrate, abet and seek to profit from violent crime in our community.”
Arnold and two accomplices reportedly hijacked a car in southwest Atlanta. Two days later, Arnold and Brewster drove to a bank in DeKalb County where they threatened to kill people if they didn’t get money, fleeing in the stolen car they eventually abandoned, according to the release.
The release reported U.S. District Judge Leigh Martin May sentenced Arnold, 30, of Atlanta, to 25 years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release on a string of charges, including drug possession. Brewster, 31, of Jonesboro, was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release on a charge of armed bank robbery. Both were ordered to pay $8,200 in restitution, according to the release.
Keri Farley, a special agent in charge of FBI Atlanta, said both Arnold and Brewster have extensive criminal backgrounds and, while committing a number of crimes during a two-week period, put innocent lives at risk, according to the release. He added that the sentence makes clear that repeat offenders face harsher sentencing and no chance for parole.
Atlanta Interim Police Chief Darin Schierbaum applauded the sentencing and noted the convictions send a clear message that violent crimes have consequences, according to the release. He added that the prosecution of repeat offenders like Arnold and Brewster demonstrate that partnerships between law enforcement agencies are effective and spotlights the devotion to solving crimes and closing cases.
