HOUSTON - Four members of a crew allegedly responsible for 20 armed bank robberies in the greater Houston and San Antonio areas will remain in federal custody without bond pending further criminal proceedings, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson.
A federal grand jury returned the 15-count indictment May 25, 2016, against Eric Beverly, 27, Gregory Babers, 25, Julien Francis, 25, and Jerrick Hoskins, 26, all of Houston. They are charges with conspiracy to commit bank robbery and multiple counts of aiding and abetting bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Authorities took Beverly into custody June 3, while Francis was arrested June 8. Babers and Hoskins were taken into custody June 9.
On June 10, all four defendants appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Hanovice Palermo for a detention hearing, after which it was determined that they should be held in custody without bond pending further criminal proceedings. During the hearing, evidence was presented indicating that the crew committed 20 take-over style robberies between July 25, 2014, and May 2, 2015. During the alleged crimes, two or more men wearing masks would enter the banks while at least one of them brandished a firearm. Inside, one or more of the men allegedly demanded money from employees at gunpoint, jumped over teller counters and would grab money from the teller drawers. It is alleged that the conspirators robbed three of the banks on more than one occasion.
Today, Judge Palermo issued detention orders indicating probable cause the crimes were committed. The court further found them to be a danger to the community.
Each faces up to five years in prison if convicted of the conspiracy to commit bank robbery. For aiding and abetting bank robbery, they also face a maximum of 25 years in federal prison upon each conviction. In addition, they face a mandatory seven-year sentence for the first conviction of brandishing a firearm, plus 25 years for every subsequent firearm conviction which must be served consecutively to each other and to the other sentences. All 15 counts also carry a possible fine of $250,000.
The FBI Violent Crime Task Force investigated, which included agents and officers of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and the Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carrie Wirsing and Jill Stotts are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
