Cobb Bank Robber Gets 40 Years in Jail

Marietta, GA -- An Atlanta man has admitted committing multiple robberies, purportedly to support his drug habit, and been sentenced to 40 years.

Over the course of nine days in May 2015, Emmanuel Lee Dukes, now 26, robbed four banks and a convenience store in Cobb County, netting a total of just over $8,000.

In the convenience store robbery on May 10, 2015, at Calm Convenience Texaco in Austell, Dukes was armed with a handgun.

In the bank robberies, which occurred at Regions Banks in Marietta and Kennesaw, a Best Bank in Mableton, and a SunTrust bank in Smyrna, Dukes passed notes to female tellers demanding “Give me all hundreds or I’ll shoot.”

Dukes was arrested after his mother saw a news report about the robberies and identified him to police. He wore bright orange Nike sneakers in at least three of the robberies, and he was also wearing those sneakers at the time of his arrest.

“The defendant told investigators he committed the robberies to support his drug habit,” said ADA Shep Orlow, who prosecuted the defendant. “Drugs make people do stupid, dangerous things. He will now have a good long time to reflect on his actions. The Department of Corrections has excellent treatment programs if he really wants to get help and hopefully make better decisions when he gets out.”

Cobb Superior Court Judge Reuben Green sentenced him to 40 years, with 20 years to serve in prison and the balance on probation.