Four Individuals Indicted on Robbery and Gun Charges

Memphis, TN -David Kustoff, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced today a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging four (4) individuals with various violations of federal criminal law involving the robbery of a bank, a credit union, and two local businesses. The indictment resulted from investigations conducted by member agencies of the Memphis Safe Streets Task Force - specifically, the FBI, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, and Memphis Police Department. The individuals charged in the indictments are as follows:

EDDIE LYMAS aka “Nuke”, 19 year old Memphis resident;

BERNARD AVERY, JR., 25 year old Memphis resident;

SHERIKA AVERY, 22 year old Memphis resident;

JOHNNIE BENJIMAN DAVIS, II, 19 year old Memphis resident;

The Indictment charges EDDIE LYMAS, BERNARD AVERY, AND JOHNNIE DAVIS with robberies of the Mapco Express, 4311 New Allen, Memphis, and Maxi Foods, 4082 South Third, Memphis, on or about December 27,2006; with the robbery of the Memphis Area Teachers’ Credit Union, 1364 No. Watkins, Memphis on or about December 29, 2006; and with the robbery of the AmSouth Bank, 2595 James Road, Memphis, on or about January 11, 2007. SHERIKA AVERY is charged in the robberies of the Memphis Area Teachers’ Credit Union and the AmSouth Bank. All four individuals are charged with the use of a firearm in the commission of these robberies.

The maximum penalty for violation of 18 USC § 1951 (Robbery Affecting Commerce) is not more than 20 years imprisonment, $250,000 fine, or both, plus not more than 5 years supervised release. The maximum penalty for violation of 18 USC § 2113(a) (Bank Robbery) is not more than 20 years imprisonment, $250,000 fine, or both, plus not more than 5 years supervised release. The maximum penalty for violation of 18 USC § 924(c) (weapons charge) is not less than 7 years imprisonment (for first conviction)(not less than 25 years imprisonment for 2nd or subsequent conviction) to be served consecutively with any other term of imprisonment, $250,000 fine, or both, plus not more than 5 years supervised release.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan L. Newsom will be handling this case on behalf of the United States Attorney’s Office.

Note: Charges brought against a person through an indictment are accusations only. That person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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