Three Sentenced for Armed Bank Robberies

Three Decatur men were sentenced today to federal prison for their roles in armed bank robberies in Cobb and other parts of metro Atlanta.

And federal authorities this evening credited the Austell and Cobb County Police Departments with getting the men off the streets. 

Torrey Marable, 21, robbed banks in Marietta, Atlanta and Dunwoody between Aug. 9 and Sept. 5, 2012, Bob Page, the spokesman for U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates, said in a statement.

During the Dunwoody robbery, Marable, Deandre Markee King and Rico Blackwell forced tellers to hand over more than $71,000, he said. 

Marable's plan to rob another bank in South Cobb was thwarted when Austell police on Sept. 5 pulled over a vehicle near a PNC Bank. Law enforcement was on the lookout for a similar vehicle, Page said.

Jason Blackwell, 32, was behind the wheel of the vehicle and Marable, King and half-brother Rico Blackwell all had semi-automatic handguns within their reach, Page said. Austell police also found two surgical masks, two bandanas and latex gloves in the car.

A United States district judge sentenced Marable to 27 years in prison and ordered him to pay $89,644 in restitution, Page said. After he completes his sentence, Marable will be under five years of supervised release.

Rico Blackwell, 22, received 138 months in prison and was ordered to pay $71,668 in restitution. Jason Blackwell received 84 months in prison. After they complete their sentences, they will be under three years of supervised release, Page said.

King, 28, also of Decatur, will not be sentenced until Aug. 28.

“These men terrorized bank employees when they entered the banks they robbed with guns drawn,” Yates said in a statement. “Serious violent crimes should be met with serious prison sentences, such as those imposed in this case, to protect our communities.”