Gregory Babers, Eric Beverly, Julien Francis, Jarrick Hoskins, Bank Robbery, Texas 2015

HOUSTON, Texas - A string of bank robberies in Houston has come to an end with the sentencing of four men for their roles in the crimes.

The four men, Gregory Babers, 30, Eric Beverly, 31, Julien Francis, 29, and Jarrick Hoskins, 31, were all convicted of their involvement in the robberies and attempted robberies of six local banks.

The robberies took place between August 25, 2014, and May 2, 2015, and involved the use of masks, gloves, and firearms to put bank employees and customers in harm's way.

According to the U.S. Attorney's office, the men committed over 20 bank robberies in the Houston area, with two or more men wearing masks and entering the banks while at least one of them brandished a firearm and put people's lives in jeopardy.

Eric Beverly, who was convicted of five counts of aiding and abetting the robbery of local banks and aiding and abetting the attempted robbery of another, as well as six counts of aiding and abetting the brandishing of a firearm during the commission of the robberies, was sentenced to 42 years in prison for the firearms charges in addition to five years for the robberies and attempted robberies.

The sentences for Babers, Francis, and Hoskins were 84, 51, and 100 months, respectively, which are to be served consecutively.

The FBI Violent Crime Task Force, Harris County Sheriff's Office, and Houston Police Department conducted the investigation, which was led by Special Agent in Charge Perrye K. Turner of the FBI.

Babers, Francis, and Hoskins admitted to their respective roles as lookouts, drivers, and inside-men at the time of their pleas.

The jury heard testimony from five bank tellers explaining how the armed robbers wore masks and gloves, and saw videos and photos from each of the robberies.

The jury also considered phone records showing how the robbers used their cell phones to communicate with each other.

The total sentence for all four defendants is 47 years, to be followed by three years of supervised release.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr/4-sent-prison-multiple-area-robberies