Jury Convicts Armed Bank Robber After Two-Day Trial

ALBANY – The final defendant charged in the armed robbery of an Albany, Georgia bank was found guilty by a federal jury late Tuesday afternoon following a two-day trial, said Charles “Charlie” Peeler, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. Shataz Hampton, 25, of Albany, was found guilty of one count Bank Robbery and one count Brandishing a Firearm. Mr. Hampton’s trial began on Monday, August 19, 2019 and was presided over by U.S. District Judge Leslie Gardner. Earlier this year, Mr. Hampton’s co-defendant, Kamilyah Whitlock, 25, of Albany, was found guilty by a citizen jury on the same criminal charges following a four-day trial in February. The penalty for these crimes are a maximum 25 years for Bank Robbery and a maximum of life in prison for Brandishing a Firearm. Ms. Whitlock will be sentenced on September 4, 2019 at 10 a.m. A sentencing date has not been set for Mr. Hampton. Mr. Hampton and Ms. Whitlock were masked and armed when they robbed The Renasant Bank on North Westover Boulevard in Albany, Georgia on November 6, 2017. There were more than a dozen customers and employees inside.

“The citizens of Southwest Georgia will not stand for violence in their community. With this final conviction, both offenders will be held accountable for their crimes” said U.S. Attorney Charlie Peeler. “I want to thank the investigators with the Albany Police Department and the FBI for their work in this case.”

The case was investigated by the Albany Police Department and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah McEwen is prosecuting the case for the Government. Questions can be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603 or Melissa Hodges, Public Affairs Director (Contractor), United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 765-2362.