HUNTSVILLE MAN SENTENCED FOR BANK ROBBERY

BIRMINGHAM, AL —ANTONIO LASHAWN DRAKE, 22, of Huntsville, was sentenced by United States District Judge L. Scott Coogler to 65 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release for one count of bank robbery after pleading guilty on June 26, 2008.

According to court documents, DRAKE robbed the North Alabama Bank on Winchester Road on January 10, 2008. DRAKE brandished a weapon which was an air pistol. DRAKE then left the bank. At this time, an Alabama State Trooper was conducting an accident investigation near the robbery. While the trooper was monitoring radio communications about the bank robbery, he observed a vehicle matching the vehicle description of the bank robber. The trooper approached the vehicle and observed a handgun on the passenger seat and a black ski mask. He also observed a brown bag in the car and asked the driver (DRAKE) what was in the bag. DRAKE responded, “money” and then fled on foot. DRAKE was later caught, identified, and confessed to the bank robbery. It was later determined that the car had been stolen from a used car dealership in Huntsville.

“I applaud Judge Coogler’s sentence. It sends the right message and will serve to put citizens at ease and violent criminals on notice,” stated United States Attorney Alice H. Martin. “Thanks to the quick thinking of Alabama State Trooper J. Hopkins, Antonio Drake will be off the street.”

“It appears that Mr. Drake has made his last illegal withdrawal. Today’s sentencing should be a lesson to all would-be bank robbers. We will catch you, you will be prosecuted and you will go to jail,” stated Carmen S. Adams, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The investigation of this matter was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney David H. Estes prosecuted this matter on behalf of the United States.