Delaware Man Gets 3 To 9 Years For 2016 Delco Bank Robbery

A Wilmington, Delaware man will spend at least three years and nine months in prison for his role in a Delaware County bank robbery that occurred in 2016, county authorities said.

Delaware County District Attorney Katayoun M. Copeland said Jabari Beeks, 28, of Wilmington, Delaware, was sentenced 45 to 90 months for the May 17, 2016 robbery of TD Bank on MacDade Boulevard in Folsom.

Beeks was remanded to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in Wilmington to serve the sentence as he is currently serving a sentence for a robbery conviction committed in Delaware, the DA's office said.

Beeks pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery, a felony of the second degree, before Delaware County Common Pleas Court Judge George A. Pagano, who sentenced the defendant to 45 to 90 months’ state prison time and ordered the defendant to pay $2,269 in restitution to TD Bank.

The case was prosecuted by Delaware County Assistant District Attorney Patrick A. Scanlon and the investigation was led by Detective Sergeant William J. Henderson of the Ridley Township Police Department.

At 2:18 p.m. on May 17, 2016, Ridley Township Police were dispatched to the TD Bank at 131 E. MacDade Boulevard in Folsom, for a robbery that had just occurred, the DA's office said.

Police got a description of the suspect and set up a perimeter in the area with help from the Chester Police Department Canine Unit.

It was determined that the suspect, later identified as Beeks, entered the bank, approached the teller, and threw a yellow plastic bag along with a demand note that stated, "I want all of the money in all three drawers," the DA's office said.

The teller gave Beeks a $500 pack of cash and Beeks then demanded more money and went to the next teller, according to the DA's office.

Beeks told the next teller to give him everything in her drawer or he was going to jump over the counter saying, "Don't make me jump over the counter, give me it all," the DA's office said.

Fearing for her safety, the teller emptied the cash in her drawer into the plastic bag, according to the DA's office. Beeks then fled the building with a $2,269 in cash, the DA's office said.

The next day, Detective Sergeant Henderson shared photos and a description of the suspect.

Then the following day, the Delaware State Police told local authorities the robber may be Beeks, the DA's office said.

This identification was confirmed by witnesses via photo array, according to the DA's office.

"This arrest and conviction in this case is the result of excellent team work by our law enforcement officers. We commend the Ridley Township Police Department along with the Chester Police Department and Delaware State Police who assisted with this case," Katayoun said. "We commend Assistant District Attorney Patrick A. Scanlon whose prosecutorial efforts have ensured that this defendant will not be able to victimize more bank tellers and patrons for a long time."

Image via Delaware County District Attorney's Office