Three Northern California residents have been charged by a federal grand jury with a series of bank robberies that terrorized the East Bay and Eastern District communities, as per an indictment unsealed and announced by U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert. Dontae Jones Jr., 20, Yasmin Millett, 21, and JoMya Mauriyne Futch, 21, of Richmond, stand accused of plotting and executing at least 10 bank heists from June 2023 to September 2024, which involved threats of violence to intimidate bank employees into compliance, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Jones and Millett have no fixed address, but it did not hinder their operation, they allegedly recruited others including Futch to participate in these meticulously patterned crimes; the accused would storm into various banks across Sacramento, Vallejo, Suisun City, Benicia, Concord, and Antioch, brandishing threatening notes that sometimes read, "I will kill everyone in here," to secure the money, they would then flee to a carefully positioned getaway car with their loot, as outlined in court documents, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office. The indictments also detail a disturbing instance where a woman was forced at gunpoint to take part in one such robbery, and, in a separate incident involving the use of a minor, underscore the reckless disregard for human life inherent in their scheme.
Furthermore, evidence presented points to a sort of dark recruitment and grooming process, where Millett would boast of their ill-gotten gains on Instagram, luring in potential accomplices with the allure of quick cash, while instructing them to don sunglasses and wield purses to better conceal the stolen funds and their identities alike. Futch found herself charged with one count of perjury on top of her role in the conspiracy after she gave false testimony under oath before a grand jury on August 15, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The FBI's field offices in San Francisco and Sacramento spearheaded the investigation, with backing from a coalition of law enforcement agencies including local police departments from Sacramento to Fremont, that have all since woven a net that has culminated into the indictment of these defendants, who now face serious time; if convicted, the charge of conspiracy to commit bank robbery carries a maximum sentence of five years and a fine up to $250,000 while actual bank robbery can impose a 20-year sentence and an equal fine, as per Assistant U.S. Attorney Whitnee Goins, who is leading the prosecution efforts. Meanwhile, Futch could face an additional five-year imprisonment and a similar financial penalty if her perjury conviction goes through; it should be noted, however, that these charges are merely accusations at this stage, and the defendants retain their constitutional presumption of innocence unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
