AUGUSTA, GA: Edmund A. Booth, Jr., United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announced that Adrian Branham, who was convicted by a federal jury on May 9, 2007, following a three-day trial, has been sentenced to 137 years imprisonment in United States District Court in Augusta by Chief U.S. District Judge William T. Moore, Jr. Branham was convicted of Conspiracy to Rob Commercial Businesses, three counts of Robbery of a Commercial Business (Banking Institutions), and three counts of Brandishing a Firearm During a Crime of Violence.

In addition, Branham’s co-conspirators Isaac Doby, Demetrius Freeman, and Vincent Savageau, all of whom pled guilty to related charges on September 28, 2006, were also sentenced yesterday in United States District Court in Augusta by Chief Judge Moore. Doby, convicted of Conspiracy to Rob a Commercial Business was sentenced to 10 ½ years imprisonment. Freeman, convicted of Conspiracy to Rob a Commercial Business, three counts of Armed Bank Robbery, and one count of Brandishing a Firearm During a Crime of Violence, was sentenced to 21 ½ years imprisonment. And Savageau, convicted of Conspiracy to Rob a Commercial Business, two counts of Armed Bank Robbery, and one count of Brandishing a Firearm During a Crime of Violence, was sentenced to 20 ½ years imprisonment. Booth noted that parole is not available to federal prisoners.

The evidence at Branham’s trial showed that Branham conspired with other individuals, including Doby, Freeman, and Savageau to rob commercial businesses, specifically banking institutions, across South Carolina and Georgia. It was further shown by the evidence that as a result of this conspiracy, between February 22, 2006 and April 27, 2006, a total of eight banks, including three Georgia banks located in the Augusta area, were robbed by Branham’s co-conspirators for a total of over $200,000.00. Portions of the stolen money were used to post bail bonds for Branham who was in custody in the state of South Carolina.

Booth praised the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina, Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina; Richland County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina. The government was represented by Assistant United States Attorneys Patricia Green Johnson and Kyle G.A. Wallace.