Two men have been hit with substantial prison sentences following their guilty pleas in connection with a series of high-stakes armed robberies across metro Atlanta, authorities said. The defendants, Kujo Duako and Sammetrius Brooks, carried out their criminal escapades in late October 2018, targeting multiple businesses and resulting in a significant amount of stolen cash and property.
After the crime spree, U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan commented on the apprehension and sentencing of the duo. "Duako and Brooks terrorized innocent victims and jeopardized their lives during this violent crime spree," Buchanan said, according to a press release by the U.S. Attorney's Office. Clearly, the efforts of the FBI, alongside local law enforcement partners, led to the swift capture and subsequent convictions of the pair which has now culminated in their recent sentencing.
The crimes unfolded beginning with an attempted robbery at a CVS in South Fulton, Georgia when Duako intimidated an employee with a firearm. However, this initial attempt was foiled as the employee set off a fire alarm, thereby averting the robbery. That same day, Duako managed to rob a Dollar General store at gunpoint. The following day, joined by Brooks, he escalated their operations into a full-blown spree, menacing various businesses including an IHOP and several stores before finally robbing a bank in Fairburn, Georgia.
Duako, originally from Ghana, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jean-Paul "J.P." Boulee to a total of 16 years in prison on July 31, after pleading guilty to multiple charges including armed bank robbery, and, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Brooks, hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, was handed down a nearly 12-year prison term in late 2021. The sentencing of Brooks also followed a guilty plea, encompassing similar charges. Both men are subject to three years of supervised release following their incarceration.
This case fell under the purview of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative that involves various levels of law enforcement to thwart violent crime and gun violence. The Department of Justice has fortified PSN with strategies that include community collaboration and targeted enforcement, aiming to bolster public safety comprehensively. The FBI's Atlanta division exemplified this collaborative enforcement, with Special Agent in Charge Keri Farley reinforcing, “These sentences should be a warning to anyone who would consider armed robbery in our community, and hopefully bring some comfort to the victims that were affected during the commission of these crimes,” as mentioned by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
