Career Bank Robber Gets 24 Years In Prison

Steven L. Jackson was sentenced on Thursday to 24 years and six months in prison for recidivist armed bank robber and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, according to a news release from the office of United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates.  

“Jackson terrorized the bank employees, forcing them to lie face down on the floor of the bank while he pointed a gun at them,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates. “His long history of committing violent crimes merited the lengthy sentence that he received, and his removal from our community will make the Atlanta area a safer place.” 

J. Britt Johnson, special agent in charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office, added the community's streets are safer with Jackson's sentence. He also stated the FBI will continue to focus on bringing down repeat offenders who "plague our communities and burden our criminal justice resources that have to deal with them.” 

On Thursday, April 9, 2009, at approximately 8:20 a.m., Jackson entered BB&T Bank located at 6343 Roswell Road in Sandy Springs. 

He entered the bank through a rear window prior to the bank opening for the day, but after employees had arrived.

Jackson placed tape on the glass of one of the rear windows of the bank and then broke the glass. Once inside the bank, Jackson walked to the branch manager’s office and pointed a gun at him. Jackson ordered the manager and two more bank employees to take him to the vault where he stole $16,180.30 in United States currency. 

After taking the money, Jackson forced the employees to lie face down on the floor of the bank while he fled the scene. 

Because Jackson has several prior convictions relating to robbery, he was sentenced as a career offender. His prior convictions include the following: 

• A May 2, 1986, sentence of four years of imprisonment for robbery, arising from an October 29, 1984, arrest;
• A July 30, 1999, sentence of twenty years of imprisonment for robbery, arising from an October 30, 1996, arrest; and
• An October 10, 1997, sentence of eight years of imprisonment for conspiracy to commit armed robbery, arising from a May 9, 1997, arrest.

Jackson was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Steve C. Jones to 24 years and six months of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $16,180.30. 

Jackson pleaded guilty on November 2, 2012, to the offenses of armed bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.