Northeast Ohio couple sentenced to prison for 16 robberies or attempted robberies to fund their drug habit

Casey Layne Liberty, 31, of Amherst, and Daniel T. Begin, 33, of Cleveland, were both sentenced to 71 months on prison. Both were ordered to pay $6,598 in restitution.

The pair previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank robbery, bank robbery, conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and Hobbs Act robbery.

“This pair went on a monthlong crime spree in which they robbed banks and stores to feed their drug habit,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “It’s a miracle no one was killed, and we’re gratified this duo will be off the street.”

“This pair posed a danger to people doing their banking or simply picking up lunch,” Anthony said. “The fine work of the FBI agents, along with nearly a dozen police departments, has made our community safer.”

Liberty wore a disguise and robbed banks and stores while Begin acted as the getaway driver, according to court documents.

The pair admitted to following bank robberies last year: Andover Bank in Conneaut on Sept. 19, Chase Bank in Medina on Sept. 28, First National Bank in Beachwood on Oct. 4 and the Chase Bank in Fairlawn on Oct. 12.

They also pleaded guilty to robbing a Subway in Findlay on Sept. 26, a Seven Eleven in Brunswick on Sept. 28, a Gamestop in Elyria on Oct. 7, a Domino’s Pizza in Madison on Oct. 10, a Mr. Hero in Canton on Oct. 11, a Subway in Avon on Oct. 15, a Subway in Elyria on Oct. 16, a Mr. Hero in Perkins Township on Oct. 19, a Domino’s Pizza in North Olmsted on Oct. 22 and a Mr. Hero in Berea on Oct. 22.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ranya Elzein and Robert J. Patton following an investigation by the FBI and the police departments of Conneaut, North Olmsted, Medina, Beachwood, Avon, Elyria, Findlay, Perkins Township, Madison, Berea and North Ridgeville.

Serial Lawrence County “Mountain Dew” Robber Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison

PITTSBURGH, Pa., - A former resident of New Castle, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his convictions on federal robbery laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

United States District Judge David S. Cercone imposed the sentence on Eric Barbati, age 33.

According to the information presented to the court, on August 26, 2017, Eric Barbati robbed the BFS Foods Convenience Store, located at 1509 Wilmington Road, New Castle, PA 16105, of $292.00. Barbati then robbed two other convenience stores, the Red Apple Convenience Store (on August 31, 2017), located at 1010 Wilmington Avenue, New Castle, PA 16101, of $242.00; and the Market 24 Convenience Store (on September 4, 2017 and again on September 17, 2017), located at 719 W. Washington Street, New Castle, PA 16101, of $170.00 and $117.00, respectively. During all of the convenience store robberies, Barbati would approach the store clerk and attempt to pay for a bottle of Mountain Dew before using a knife or forcibly taking money from the drawer to commit the robbery.

On September 5, 2017, Barbati also robbed the PNC Bank, located at 2470 E. State Street, Hermitage, PA 16148, of $2,702.00, and on September 11, 2017, he robbed the Huntington Bank, located at 108 S. Market Street, New Castle, PA 16142, of $1,641.00.

Judge Cercone also ordered that Barbati pay restitution to all three businesses and both banks and also serve a term of three years of supervised release upon release from prison.

Assistant United States Attorney Timothy M. Lanni is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hermitage Police Department, the New Wilmington Borough Police Department, the New Castle Police Department, and the Neshannock Township Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the guilty plea in this case.

Georgia Pair Arrested for Role in Interstate Jury-Duty Scam

BIRMINGHAM – The FBI today arrested two Georgia residents on charges they took part in an interstate jury-duty scam, announced U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town, FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp Jr. and U.S. Marshal Martin Keely.

A one-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama charges TEIANA MARIE TAYLOR and ORENTHIAL WALKER, both of Decatur, Georgia, with conspiring together and with others to commit wire fraud with false information concerning jury duty. They were arrested in Georgia.

“Scammers like these undermine the authority of the courts and federal law enforcement agencies dedicated to the rule of law,” Town said. “It is important for everyone to understand, in an effort to avoid becoming a victim, that federal agencies will never call you on the phone and demand money. We do not, typically, call ahead.”

According to the indictment, a member of the conspiracy would call a resident of the Northern District of Alabama, falsely claim to be a federal official, falsely claim that a judge had issued an arrest warrant for the resident, and then demand immediate payment of money. If the resident agreed to pay, the caller would demand that the victim transfer the money by means of gift cards or through commercial money transfer services to an account controlled by the conspiracy. Walker, 42, and Taylor, 35, would then withdraw the proceeds of the fraud and transfer them as directed by the conspiracy, according to the indictment.

The maximum penalty for conspiracy to commit wire fraud is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Victims of this fraud commonly report that the scammers sound convincing and speak authoritatively. The scammers may use real information about the victim and accurate court addresses. They may also use the real names of law enforcement officers, court officials, and federal judges to make the scam appear more credible. They may even “spoof” the phone number on caller ID so that it falsely appears to be from the court or a government agency.

Citizens can protect themselves by knowing these facts about federal jury service:

●The court will always send a jury summons by U.S. Mail.

●The court and law enforcement will never demand payment over the phone.

●The court and law enforcement will never demand a gift card number to satisfy an obligation.

●A prospective juror who disregards a jury summons will be contacted through the mail by the court clerk’s office and may, in certain circumstances, be ordered to appear before a judge. Such an order will always be in writing and signed by the judge. 

●A fine will never be imposed until after the individual has appeared in court and been given the opportunity to explain his or her failure to appear. If a fine is imposed, it will be in open court and reduced to writing (and will not be payable by gift card number).

Citizens who wish to verify whether they were summoned for federal jury duty may contact the Northern District of Alabama’s jury office at 1-800-222-8715. Citizens can report a scam phone call by contacting the FBI Birmingham Field Office at 205-326-6166.

The FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service investigated this case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Keim is prosecuting.

An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.