One of the banks the crew robbed was a Spring Hill Wells Fargo.

TAMPA – A federal jury has convicted a Ft. Myers man for his involvement in a string of armed robberies of banks and retail stores, according to Maria Chapa Lopez, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida.

After a seven-day trial, the jury found Rashid Iman Turner, 32, of Ft. Myers, guilty of one count of conspiring to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery, two counts of bank robbery, three counts of interference with interstate commerce by robbery, and three counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Turner faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 21 years, and up to life, in federal prison. Turner’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Aug. 20.

According to evidence presented at trial, Turner and co-defendant Petrie Addison forced entry into at least one retail store in Lehigh Acres shortly after closing time, held the employees at gunpoint, threatened to kill them and their families, forced them to open the safes, and stole the cash from the store. Co-defendant Dakiriya Lias served as their getaway driver.

Eventually, Turner and Addison turned their attention to banks. In November 2017, they robbed a Wells Fargo Bank in Spring Hill. In December 2017, co-defendant Zachary Gloster joined the crew and they robbed Seacoast Banks in Arcadia and Port St. Lucie.

In each of the bank robberies, the defendants stormed through the bank’s front doors shortly after opening time, held the employees at gunpoint, looted the teller drawers, and fled less than two minutes later.

Addison, Gloster, and Lias pleaded guilty for their roles in this case before Turner’s trial. They are awaiting sentencing.

U.S. Attorney | Crime | Bank Robbery | Tampabay News

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