A bank robber who held a gun to a teller’s head in the course of committing nine bank robberies was sentenced to 32 years’ imprisonment, Acting United States Attorney Terrence Berg announced today. Berg was joined in the announcement by Andrew G. Arena, Special Agent-In-Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Detroit field office.

Jawan Martin, 28, of Detroit pleaded guilty to two counts of using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence following two days of trial on September 22, 2008 before U.S. District Judge Sean F. Cox. As part of his plea, Martin admitted to robbing the following nine banks:

1. March 16, 2006 -- Chase Bank, 32203 Plymouth Rd., Livonia, stealing $157,728;

2. January 2, 2007 -- LaSalle Bank, 24660 Southfield Rd., Southfield, stealing $116,170;

3. March 16, 2007 -- Chase Bank, W. Warren Ave., Dearborn Heights, stealing $117,818;

4. June 2, 2006 – Fifth Third Bank, 700 S. Ballenger Hwy., Flint, stealing $71,000;

5. August 4, 2006 – Citizens Bank, 3267 Beecher Road, Flint, stealing $50,466;

6. July 11, 2007 – Franklin Bank, 26336 W. 12 Mile Rd., Southfield, Michigan, stealing $0;

7. August 7, 2007 – National City Bank, located at 625 E. Manhattan Blvd., Toledo, Ohio, stealing $77,048;

8. October 11, 2007 -- Fifth Third Bank, 3754 Rochester Rd., Troy, stealing $41,642;

9. November 14, 2007 – Chase Bank, 33051 Schoenherr, Sterling Heights, stealing $1,600.

During each robbery, Martin was armed with an AK-47-style assault rifle or a handgun.

During the Fifth Third Bank robbery in Flint, surveillance video showed Martin putting a handgun to a teller’s head. During the November 14, 2007 Sterling Heights robbery, a bank teller was shot in the leg by Martin’s co-defendant, Andre Jones.

Martin was also ordered to pay $633,492 in restitution to the nine banks. At the conclusion of his sentence of imprisonment he will serve five years of supervised release.

Martin committed the robberies with four other defendants, all of whom have previously been convicted after pleaded guilty. Jones is scheduled to be sentenced on December 24, 2008. Two getaway drivers, Terez Deon Rivers, 33, and Frederick Samuel Humes, Jr., 29, were sentenced to 10 and 14 years respectively on October 22, 2008. Sparkle Eldridge, 23, another getaway driver, is scheduled for sentencing on January 14, 2009.

Acting U.S. Attorney Terrence Berg said, “Both tellers and customers need to feel safe as they transact their business in our area banks. Any would-be bank robbers need to look at today’s 32-year prison sentence and think again before engaging in such violent crimes.”

“The lengthy sentences to be served by these armed thugs is a testament to the work of FBI agents throughout this state and elsewhere, as well as to our state and local law enforcement partners,” stated SAC Arena.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Leonid Feller and Mark Chasteen .