Serial Robbers Sentenced for Two Armed Bank Robberies and Armed Carjacking

ORLANDO, FL—U.S. Attorney A. Brian Albritton announces that United States District Judge Gregory A. Presnell today sentenced five defendants for their involvement in two armed bank robberies and an armed carjacking that occurred in Orlando and Ocoee in May and June 2009. The men were identified and sentenced as follows:

Joseph Emanuel Leader and organizer for all robberies 62 years in federal prison

Eric Jackson Gunman and accomplice for both bank robberies 27 years in federal prison

Stephenson Peltier Gunman and accomplice in first bank robbery 8 ½ years in federal prison

Adrian Ware Getaway driver in second bank robbery 5 years in federal prison

James Griffin Accomplice in carjacking 2 years in federal prison

According to evidence presented at trial and sentencing, Emanuel planned and orchestrated two armed bank robberies in Ocoee on consecutive Saturdays in June 2009.

For the first robbery, of the Ocoee Washington Mutual bank on East Silver Star Road in Ocoee on June 6, 2009, Emanuel recruited Peltier and Jackson to assist him. Emanuel provided Jackson and Peltier with a silver handgun and a Mac-10 styled firearm, gloves, a mask. Jackson entered the bank with the silver gun and demanded money from the teller, while Peltier trained the Mac-10 on the approximately twenty customers—including several young children—and employees who were in the bank. Emanuel then served as the getaway driver for the trio.

For the second robbery, of the Suntrust on Ocoee-Apopka road in Ocoee on June 13, Emanuel again recruited Jackson, who in turn recruited Ware. Emanuel again supplied the silver gun and Mac-10 styled firearm. This time, Emanuel himself entered the bank with the Mac-10, brandished the weapon, and threatened to kill the bank’s employees while Jackson used the handgun to get the money from a teller. Ware then acted as the getaway driver.

While investigating the bank robberies, members of the Ocoee Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Violent Crime Task Force located a stolen car at Emanuel’s residence that had been reported stolen in an armed carjacking. The victim of the carjacking identified Emanuel as his assailant and Griffin as Emanuel’s accomplice. Griffin was arrested and admitted to helping Emanuel carjack the victim. He also stated that Emanuel had attempted to recruit him for the June 6, 2009, Washington Mutual Bank robbery, but that he had refused.

Jackson, Peltier, Griffin, and Ware all pleaded guilty and cooperated with authorities. A federal jury found Emanuel guilty of all charges against him after a trial in January 2010.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Violent Crime Task Force, Ocoee Police Department, Winter Park Police Department, Orange County Sheriff's Office, Orlando Police Department, and Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Bishop Ravenel.