Gainesville Career Criminal Gets Taste Of ATF & Project Safe Neighborhood

Tampa, FL - Ralph C. Ostrowski, Special Agent in Charge of the Tampa Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), U.S. Treasury Department and Thomas F. Kirwin, Interim U.S. Attorney for the Northern Judicial District of Florida, today announced that Kenneth Dewayne Brown of Gainesville, Fl. was sentenced today by Senior United States District Court Judge Maurice M. Paul for a January 31,2002 armed bank robbery in Archer, Florida.

Brown pled guilty on May 8, 2002 to Bank Robbery, violation of Title 18, USC, 2113 (a)(d), possession of a firearm by a 3 time convicted felon, violation of Title 18, USC, 922(g)(1) and 924(e)(1) and was sentenced today to17 years in federal custody

According to the facts stipulated to in the plea agreement, on January 31,2002 at approximately 12:50 P.M. Kenneth Dewayne Brown, entered the Perkins State Bank (Archer Branch). Brown approached a bank teller, and advised her "I want your money." When the teller stated, "Excuse me," BROWN again said "I want your money, this is a robbery." the teller complied with BROWN's request and gave to him the entire cash drawer, which BROWN then took from the teller, and fled the bank. BROWN did not brandish any firearm during the robbery. BROWN was observed by bank personnel entering a vehicle and departing the bank in an easterly direction towards Gainesville, Florida, on Archer Road. Immediately after the robbery at Perkins State Bank, Alachua County Deputy Sheriff Todd Enos responded to the area. Deputy Enos observed a vehicle matching the suspect vehicle, and when he turned his marked patrol car around in the same direction that the suspect was traveling, the suspect vehicle accelerated to high speed. Deputy Enos and other responding deputies pursued the suspect vehicle at speeds of up to 120 miles an hour until the suspect stopped his vehicle and fled the area on foot. A perimeter of the area was established and at approximately 3:18 PM, Gainesville Police Officer (GPD) Weiland along with his GPD Canine Jag, located BROWN hiding underneath a home at 721 S.E. 8th Avenue, Gainesville, Florida. Also removed from beneath the residence, in close proximity to BROWN at the time of his arrest, was a black bag containing the $4,088.74 (including 5-$10.00 bills and 4-$20.00 bills of known U.S. Currency ("Bait Money") taken from the bank, and lying on the bag was the Makarov .9 mm pistol.

"This is just the beginning of Project Safe Neighborhood in Alachua County and the rest of Florida, said Ralph Ostrowski. " Our new ATF Office in Gainesville is here to assist State and Local law enforcement in going after the worst of the worst criminals and prosecuting them federally thus exposing them to very severe sentencing.