DAVENPORT, IA—On March 10, 2020, Christopher Lee Schultz, age 41, of Geneseo, Illinois, pleaded guilty in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa for five bank robberies in Iowa and Illinois, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum.

Schultz’s guilty plea related to the January 18, 2019, robbery of the American Bank and Trust at 2340 41st Street, Moline, Illinois; the February 16, 2019, robbery of the DuTrac Community Credit Union at 3100 West Kimberly Road, Davenport, Iowa; the March 8, 2019, robbery of the Chase Bank at 151 19th Avenue, Moline, Illinois; the March 23, 2019, robbery of the IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union at 2839 AAA Court, Bettendorf, Iowa; and the April 18, 2019, robbery of the US Bank at 3120 Middle Road, Bettendorf, Iowa.

Schultz acknowledged wearing a mask and displaying what appeared to be a handgun during each of the robberies. Schultz further admitted taking over $26,000 during the course of the five robberies.

On March 5, 2020, Benjamin David Watkins pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting Schultz in the robbery of US Bank on April 18, 2019.

Both Schultz and Watkins are scheduled to be sentenced in Davenport on July 9, 2020.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Davenport Police Department, Bettendorf Police Department, Moline Police Department, Rock Island Police Department, and Rock Island County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Iowa and Central District of Illinois.

DAVENPORT, Iowa – Nineteen individuals are facing 38 criminal charges as part of federal gun, robbery and drug investigations announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Sixteen Indictments by a Federal Grand Jury were filed in the last eight weeks in United States District Court in Davenport, Iowa. This is in addition to the 25 individuals charged for federal violations of gun crimes announced in August 2019 by United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum.

All of the investigations occurred in Scott County, Iowa, and involved the seizure of multiple firearms and drugs. The public is reminded that charges contain only accusations and are not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

“The reduction of violent crime is our highest priority,” said Davenport Police Chief Paul Sikorski. “Through effective collaboration and partnerships with our Federal, State and Community partners, we have a shared focus in vigorously investigating and pursuing violent offenders. All areas of our Department are committed and focused on reducing violent crime. Our Gun Investigation Unit has been instrumental in our violent crime reduction strategy with the seizure of 62 firearms and the service of 58 search warrants in the first six months of existence. It is our solid partnerships with our Federal and Local prosecutors and law enforcement agencies, as well as initiatives such as Project Safe Neighborhoods and the National Public Safety Partnership where we share an effective violent crime strategy. This year Davenport has experienced a 5% reduction in violent crime.”

“In the past few years our office in Davenport has substantially increased prosecutions of violent criminals, with a focus on those who illegally use and possess guns,” said United States Attorney Krickbaum. “That has been possible only because of our partnerships with law enforcement, which are as strong today as they have ever been.”

These cases are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. The cases were investigated by the Davenport Police Department, Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Bettendorf Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The cases are being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

To date, 13 defendants have been arrested and are outlined below. The other cases remain sealed pending arrest.

DEFENDANT

Darrell Kenneth Holloway Case Number 3:19-cr-92

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Title 18, U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) – Felon in Possession of a Firearm

Maximum Penalty is 10 years in custody

Title 21, U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C) – Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance

Maximum Penalty is 20 years in custody

DEFENDANT

Paris Larue Davis Case Number 3:19-cr-100

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Title 18, U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C) – Possession With Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance

Maximum Penalty is 20 years in custody

Title 18, U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i) – Possession of a Firearm During and In Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime

Maximum Penalty is life in custody; 5 year mandatory minimum

DEFENDANT

Alex Rogelio Barrera Case Number 3:19-cr-78

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Title 18, U.S.C. § 1951 – Interference with Commerce by Robbery

Maximum Penalty is 20 years in custody

Title 18, U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(ii) – Use and Carry a Firearm During and In Relation to a Crime of Violence

Maximum Penalty is life in custody; 5 year mandatory minimum

DEFENDANT

James Curtis Pryor Case Number 3:19-cr-78

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Title 18, U.S.C. § 1951 – Interference with Commerce by Robbery

Maximum Penalty is 20 years in custody

DEFENDANT

Christopher Lee Schultz Case Number 3:19-cr-79

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Title 18, U.S.C. § 2113(a) – Armed Bank Robbery (Three Counts)

Maximum Penalty is 20 years in custody per count

DEFENDANT

Benjamin David Watkins Case Number 3:19-cr-79

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Title 18, U.S.C. § 2113(a) – Armed Bank Robbery (Two Counts)

Maximum Penalty is 20 years in custody per count

DEFENDANT

Alexander Rene Holcomb Case Number 3:19-cr-70

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Title 21, U.S.C. § 846 – Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance

Maximum Penalty is life imprisonment; 10 year mandatory minimum

Title 18, U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) – Felon in Possession of a Firearm

Maximum Penalty is 10 years in custody

DEFENDANT

Curlie Marque Quarterman Case Number 3:19-cr-85

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Title 18, U.S.C. § 1951 – Interference with Commerce by Robbery

Maximum Penalty is 20 years in custody

DEFENDANT

James Lawrence Salkil Case Number 3:19-cr-86

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Title 18, U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) – Felon in Possession of a Firearm

Maximum Penalty is 10 years in custody

Title 21, U.S.C. § 844(a) – Possession of a Controlled Substance

Maximum Penalty is 1 year in custody

DEFENDANTS

Isaiah Ramon Henderson Case Number 3:19-cr-94

Jaquan Leonte Jones Case Number 3:19-cr-95

Justin Lee Watson Case Number 3:19-cr-96

Tray Everett Miller Case Number 3:19-cr-101

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Title 18, U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) – Felon in Possession of a Firearm

Maximum Penalty is 10 years in custody