Hempstead Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Role in Multiple Armed Robberies

Jackson was part of a crew that robbed two banks and a casino ship

MINEOLA, NY – Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced today that Erwin Jackson has been sentenced to 30 years in prison by a Nassau County judge for his role in three robberies in 2005, including the armed robbery of patrons of a docked casino boat.

Jackson, 49, of Hempstead, was found guilty by the Hon. Gerald S. Carter of nine counts of Robbery in the First Degree and one count of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree. The defendant was sentenced yesterday to 30 years for the robbery convictions.

Rice said that Jackson was part of a crew that robbed two Westbury banks and a casino ship in Freeport in the fall of 2005.

• Sept. 2, 2005 – The armed robbery of a Westbury Citibank branch netted Jackson and his accomplices more than $40,000 from the teller drawers while holding the bank’s employees at gunpoint.
• Oct. 1, 2005 – Jackson and his four accomplices boarded the Majesty Casino boat and robbed at gunpoint a $6,000 watch from the owner of the boat and approximately $65,000 from the boat’s casino bank.
• Nov. 13, 2005 – Jackson and three accomplices stole at gunpoint more than $18,000 from the teller drawers and vault at a Westbury Commerce bank branch.

On November 21, 2005 a planned robbery of the Bank of America branch in Baldwin was thwarted by Nassau County Police Officers who recognized the vehicle Jackson and four accomplices were in as it was driven by the bank. After a car pursuit two co-defendants were arrested. Paul Henry is serving 30 years in prison upon his conviction after trial for multiple felonies, and Akeem Robinson was sentenced to one year after pleading to Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree. Jackson was arrested on November 22, 2005.

“Mr. Jackson has proven to be incapable of leading a law-abiding life, and will now suffer the consequences of a life built on violence and fear,” Rice said.

Handling the case for the District Attorney’s Office is Deputy Bureau Chief of the DA’s Major Offense Bureau Daniel Looney. Jackson represented himself.