Michael J. Moore, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announced that Tony Scott Key, aged 45, of Albany, Georgia, was sentenced on Friday, January 22, 2014, to serve nearly 26 years (309 months) in Federal prison for two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence. Anthony Jerome Facon, aged 48, also of Albany, Georgia, was sentenced on Thursday, February 6, 2014 to 37 years (444 months) imprisonment for armed bank robbery and two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence. The sentences were handed down by the Honorable W. Louis Sands, United States District Court Judge, in Albany, Georgia. The Court also ordered Mr. Key and Mr. Facon to pay restitution to repay the money stolen and repay costs associated with vehicle repair for vehicles stolen by them or damaged while apprehending them and medical costs of persons affected by their crimes.
Mr. Key entered a plea of guilty to the charges on October 1, 2013. Mr. Facon entered his guilty plea on October 10, 2013. As a part of their plea agreements, Mr. Key and Mr. Facon admitted that on February 28, 2013, they entered the PeoplesSouth Bank located on Tennille Avenue in Donalsonville, Georgia and robbed tellers of approximately $31,113. During the robbery, Mr. Facon was armed with a .22 revolver and Mr. Key with a .38 revolver. Mr. Key and Mr. Facon then fled the bank in a vehicle belonging to one of the bank tellers.
The pair was apprehended by the officers from Donalsonville Police Department, Miller County Sheriff’s Office and Seminole County Sheriff’s Office following a vehicle chase and foot chase.
Mr. Key and Mr. Facon also admitted to robbing the Trust Bank located at 607 W. 4th Street in Adel, Georgia of approximately $9,279 and preparing to rob the Citizen’s Bank in Ray City, Georgia on February 7, 2013.
U.S. Attorney Michael Moore said, “Mr. Key and Mr. Facon are violent criminals who have earned a place in federal prison. When they robbed banks, they terrorized bank employees and endangered the lives of the law enforcement officers who had to chase them. People in Middle Georgia need to know that if they commit violent crimes with a gun, they are headed straight to federal prison.”
Ricky Maxwell, Acting Special Agent In Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office, stated: “While we are thankful that these dangerous individuals are no longer a threat to the public, we cannot underestimate the impact of what their violence did to the bank tellers, customers and community. They may not have physically harmed anyone, but the psychological harm that these victims have undergone because of these subjects is immeasurable. We will continue to pursue these violent offenders in cooperation and collaboration with our law enforcement partners to protect the citizens of our community.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Donalsonville Police Department, Miller County Sheriff’s Office and Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Leah E. McEwen.
