Armed Robbery 'Reign Of Terror' Sends Woman To Federal Prison

ATLANTA, GA — An Atlanta woman has been sentenced to federal prison for her role as leader of an armed-robbery crew that targeted stores, usually Wal-Marts, in a "reign of terror" throughout metro Atlanta.

Kesia Quinette Jackson, 46, was sentenced in federal court to 21 years, three months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. She also was ordered to pay restitution of $62,315.95.

"Jackson led a robbery crew that terrorized business employees, shoppers, and citizens during a crime spree," said U.S. Attorney Byung J. "BJay" Pak. "Jackson and her crew calculated their robberies and helped drive violence and fear in multiple counties."

According to prosecutors, Jackson organized 11 armed robberies in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Forsyth and Gwinnett counties between Feb. 3, 2014 and Oct. 26 2015. Seven of those robberies targeted Wal-Mart stores.

Jackson and her others researched store locations then watched them before the robberies, which usually happened between 10 p.m. and midnight. She was captured on surveillance video before the robberies, talking on her cellphone and casing the locations.

In each of the robberies, Jackson's co-defendant, Deanthony Foster, also was captured on video surveillance going into the stores wearing a surgical mask and carrying a gun. He would force store employees to empty their cash registers. During the final robbery, Foster fired a shot near store employees when they didn't immediately give him cash.

In addition to the Wal-Marts, Jackson also targeted gas stations and convenience stores. During one of those robberies, in DeKalb County, an employee was shot in the leg.

"For nearly two years, Jackson led a robbing crew that rained terror on innocent victims, who just by chance, were in the wrong place at the wrong time," said David J. LeValley, the FBI's special agent in charge in Atlanta. "The FBI, working together with several local law enforcement agencies and the U.S .Attorney’s Office, have put an end to their reign of terror so that the victims can take solace in the fact they won’t be able to traumatize any more innocent people."

Jackson pleaded guilty in the case on Nov. 10, 2016.

Foster and Eric Lamar Ross were previously sentenced for their roles in the robberies. As the gunman, Foster received a sentence of 32 years in prison. Ross, who acted as a lookout during two of the robberies, received a sentence of five years in prison.