ATLANTA - Kevin Ray Williamson has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for a string of six armed bank robberies that began on February 4, 2016, and continued until September 8, 2016.
“Williamson’s violent crime spree put citizens in our community on edge for months, especially bank employees just doing their jobs," said U. S. Attorney John Horn. “Thankfully, an observant citizen brought his criminal conduct to an abrupt end."
“The lengthy sentence handed down in federal court removes a violent serial offender from our streets. The details of the robberies committed by Mr. Williamson illustrate a total lack of regard for his victims, many of whom will, for many years, be dealing with the emotional trauma of having a gun pointed at them by an armed bank robber," said David J. LeValley, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office.
According to U.S. Attorney Horn, the charges, and other information presented in court: On February 4, 2016, Williamson entered a Fifth Third Bank located in Marietta, Georgia. Williamson pointed a handgun at a bank teller and demanded money from her cash drawer. Bank surveillance video captured the robbery and showed Williamson carrying a messenger/computer type bag in which he demanded the money be placed. During this robbery, Williamson threatened to “empty the clip" of his gun if his demands were not met.
The defendant also committed the following robberies in the Metro-Atlanta area:
* On April 1, 2016, Williamson entered a Regions Bank in Marietta while armed with a handgun. Williamson approached the bank’s counter and pointed his handgun at the teller, opened his messenger bag and demanded cash. The teller complied with Williamson’s demands and handed cash to him. Williamson threatened to shoot the teller if he did not receive the money he demanded. The surveillance photographs from the bank security system show that the person who robbed the Regions Bank was the same person who robbed the Fifth Third Bank in February 2016.
*
* On May 25, 2016, Williamson entered a BB&T Bank in Marietta. Williamson approached a bank teller, displayed a black handgun, and demanded cash. The teller complied with the robber’s demands and gave cash to Williamson. This robbery was captured on surveillance video.
*
* On July 13, 2016, Williamson entered a PNC Bank in Marietta. Bank surveillance images show that as in the other robberies, Williamson was carrying a messenger/computer type bag and approached a bank teller, opened the bag and pointed a black handgun. The teller complied with Williamson’s demands and gave him cash.
*
* On Aug. 22, 2016, Williamson entered Fidelity Bank located in Atlanta. Inside the bank, the robber pointed a gun at a teller, stated that he was robbing the bank and demanded money. The teller complied and gave Williamson cash.
*
* On September 8, 2016, Williamson entered Renasant Bank located in Johns Creek, Georgia. He displayed a handgun and demanded money from several drawers. Williamson told the teller that she would die if he did not receive more than $5,000.
Williamson wore mostly the same clothes and similar disguises at each bank - a beard, a khaki baseball cap, a dark colored suit, a dark green polo shirt, and sunglasses. His robbery spree ended when a witness at the September 2016 robbery saw him drive away in an Infiniti coupe that was traced back to him.
On Feb. 10, 2017, Kevin Ray Williamson, 52, of Marietta, Georgia, pleaded guilty to six counts of armed bank robbery and one count of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Williamson has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison, and ordered to pay $30,867 in restitution.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzette A. Smikle prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
