Federal Jury Finds Jeremiah Jackson Guilty of Bank Robbery and Killing Two Women |
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U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Mexico
August 24, 2011
Jackson Faces Sentence of Life Imprisonment
ALBUQUERQUE—United States Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales announced that earlier today, a federal jury sitting in Albuquerque found Jeremiah Jackson, 32, of Albuquerque, guilty of bank robbery and killing two women while attempting to avoid apprehension in the aftermath of the bank robbery after a four-day trial. Jackson faces a sentence of life imprisonment. Jackson has been in custody since his arrest on April 6, 2010, and remains detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be set.
Jackson was arrested immediately after the collision that took the lives of Kimberly Aragon-Nunez, a 34-year-old mother of three children, and Janice Flores, a 28-year-old mother of two children, and charged by criminal complaint April 6, 2010. Jackson subsequently was charged in a three-count indictment that was filed on May 11, 2010. The indictment charged Jackson with robbing the New Mexico Bank and Trust branch located at 3002 Louisiana NE in Albuquerque (Bank) on April 6, 2010, and killing Mrs. Aragon-Nunez and Mrs. Flores while attempting to avoid apprehension in the aftermath of the bank robbery.
The evidence at trial established that Jackson robbed the Bank, which is located at the corner of Louisiana and Candelaria NE, at approximately 10:00 a.m. on April 6, 2010 by presenting two bank tellers with a note demanding money. After obtaining approximately $2400.00 in cash from the two frightened bank tellers, Jackson fled from the Bank in a van he had borrowed earlier in the day. As he fled, the Bank manager was able to note the van’s license plate number and get a description of the vehicle.
Equipped with a description of the bank robber and the make and license plate number of the van, an officer of the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) soon located Jackson at a convenience store at the corner of Carlisle and Comanche NE. However, before the officer could establish a perimeter to box Jackson in, Jackson got back into the van and left the convenience store parking lot. Jackson quickly realized that an officer was following him. When the officer turned on her cruiser’s lights and siren, Jackson did not pull over and surrender but instead tried to evade arrest. Jackson drove south on Carlisle and then west on Interstate 40 at a high rate of speed while the officer followed and called out Jackson’s location over her police radio.
The officer continued to follow Jackson as he exited Interstate 40 and drove down Coors Blvd. SW, but lost sight of him as he sped along toward the intersection of Coors Blvd. and Quail SW. Several witnesses testified about watching Jackson attempt to turn the corner at a high rate of speed, seeing the van drift sideways and then slam into a concrete median. As it stuck the median, the van went airborne across an entire lane of traffic before landing on the vehicle occupied by Ms. Aragon-Nunez and Ms. Flores, instantaneously causing their deaths. Instead of attempting to aid his victims or seeking assistance for them, Jackson fled from the scene of the fatal collision. Jackson was apprehended shortly thereafter and made a detailed confession that was presented as part of the evidence against him.
The jury deliberated less than two hours before returning a guilty verdict.
In announcing the guilty verdict, United States Attorney Gonzales said: “Today’s verdict brings a measure of solace to the families of Kimberly Aragon-Nunez and Janice Flores. Although nothing can bring their loved ones back, their families can draw comfort from knowing that the man responsible for their loss is being held accountable.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the APD, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Presliano Torrez and Raul Torrez.