A multi-convicted felon, Terry Lewis Burston, was apprehended last week on a multitude of charges that include postal robbery and aggravated assault. Burston, who had previously served time for bank robbery, was nabbed following a string of violent incidents stretching back to December of last year, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
In one account, U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg detailed how Burston robbed an auto parts store in Decatur on December 14 wielding a handgun, followed by an aggressive confrontation at a Scottdale post office six days later, and then an attempted gas station robbery in January; Burston's criminal activities culminated with an aborted robbery on May 17 at a Lithonia Post Office where he was caught by postal inspectors, who found a firearm at the scene, which apparently led to his arrest after a short pursuit. "Burston is a violent repeat offender who allegedly terrorized the citizens of DeKalb County by assaulting federal employees and robbing local business operators at gunpoint," Hertzberg said, as noted by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Rodney M. Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division, emphasized the collaboration between Postal Inspectors and local agencies as instrumental in apprehending Burston, stating, "This is another example of Postal Inspectors and local agencies collaborating to remove an armed and dangerous individual from our community." The Inspector also acknowledged thanks to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecuting the violent and direct actions committed by Burston against federal employees and businesses, according to the same press release.
The case against Burston, who made an appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Regina D. Cannon last Thursday, is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Noah R. Schechtman and is part of Operation Take Back America, a federal initiative designed to unite the full might of the Department of Justice against illegal immigration, criminal cartels, and violent offenders, despite the fact that the charges made public only indicate accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court. The DeKalb County Police Department had a pivotal role in the investigation, showcasing yet again the critical nature of interdepartmental cooperation for maintaining public safety.
The public is advised to reach out to the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office for further information about the case, and reminders were given that a complaint only contains charges; the government bears the responsibility to substantiate the defendant's guilt in a trial setting. For those seeking additional details on the case or the federal agencies involved, contact information and Internet addresses have been made available by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
