The leader of the “AK-47" armed bank robbery gang has been sentenced to 227 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.

Andre Jones, a/k/a Donlay Holiday, 28, of Detroit pleaded guilty to twenty-one bank robbery, firearm, and conspiracy counts on September 15, 2008 before U.S. District Judge Sean F. Cox. Jones admitted to robbing the following nine banks:

October 31, 2005 – TCF Bank, 26838 Plymouth Road, Redford, Michigan, stealing $92,055;

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

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

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

June 25, 2007 – TCF Bank, 1811 Crooks Rd., Royal Oak, stealing $37,429;

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

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

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

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

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

In the November 14, 2007 Sterling Heights robbery, Jones admitted to shooting a bank teller in the leg.

Jones also admitted to arranging robberies at a Fifth Third Bank and a Citizens Bank, both in Flint, during the summer of 2006 but not participating in the heists himself. In total, Jones and his crew took more than $750,000 from the 11 robberies.

As part of his plea, Jones also admitted to shooting a Detroit Police Department officer on December 11, 2007. Jones shot the officer as he approached a Cadillac Escalade in which Jones had slept that night.

Jones committed the robberies with four other defendants, all of whom have previously pleaded guilty. Jawan Martin, 28, was sentenced to 32 years imprisonment on December 23, 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. The last defendant, Sparkle Eldridge, 23, another getaway driver, is scheduled for sentencing on January 14, 2009.

The length of the sentence was required by enhanced sentencing penalties imposed by Congress for use and carrying of a firearm during a crime of violence. Jones was convicted on nine such counts, one for each armed bank robbery he committed. Where a firearm is brandished, the mandatory minimum sentence is 7 years. For each subsequent offense, a consecutive sentence of 25 years is required, for a total of 207 years in this case. Judge Cox imposed an additional sentence of 20 years on the remaining bank robbery and conspiracy counts, for a total of 227 years.

Acting U.S. Attorney Terrence Berg said, “In a time that too often celebrates violence and a gangster life-style, today’s 227-year sentence stands as a serious warning to anyone contemplating knocking over a bank or committing an armed robbery.” “The nearly 300 years to be served by these defendants 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.