From ATM tech to bank robber: Shocking heists revealed in trial of Florida man

FLORIDA – A former ATM technician who reportedly traveled around Florida and the southeast tampering with ATMs and robbing technicians sent out to fix them has been sentenced to federal prison.

Johnson Saint-Louis, 38, of Deerfield Beach, was sentenced to 147 months in federal prison following his conviction for armed bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentence.

“This serial armed robber endangered the lives of multiple victims,” said Coody.

“Through the coordinated efforts of our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, his multi-state crime spree has ended, and he has been held accountable for his criminal conduct. This sentence illustrates our shared resolve to keep our communities safe and the significant consequences associated with such federal crimes of violence.”

A federal jury convicted Saint-Louis after a three-day trial on November 9, 2022.

Evidence introduced during the trial revealed that Saint-Louis was a former ATM technician who traveled around the southeast tampering with ATMs serviced by his former employer. Over a two-year period, Saint-Louis robbed four ATM technicians sent out to fix problems Saint-Louis had caused, including the ATM technician dispatched to the Bank of America at 5676 Thomasville Road in Tallahassee, Florida, on September 29, 2021.

The government introduced evidence of similar robberies in Boca Raton, Florida, in November 2019, Longwood, Florida, in February 2021, and Raleigh, North Carolina, in August 2021.

“This conviction is a testament to collaborative efforts between local, state, and federal authorities to bring to justice those who perpetrate crimes in our community,” said Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell.

“Members of the Tallahassee Police Department work tirelessly to investigate cases and collect the evidence needed for an arrest and subsequent conviction. Additionally, this conviction highlights the efforts of the grants and programs established at TPD that are aimed at eradicating crime. We want the community to know we have made a commitment to more than just making the arrests but also doing our part to prevent the crime from happening.”

As part of the FBI’s investigation into the bank robberies, Saint-Louis was surveilled by Seminole County Sheriff’s Office deputies, who said they watched as Saint-Louis traveled to various Bank of America locations. Deputies eventually stopped Saint-Louis, and during that traffic stop, they said they observed a firearm and notes listing the locations of Bank of America branches in Jacksonville.

According to prosecutors, the Bank of America branches were annotated with whether the ATM at that location was manufactured by Saint-Louis’ former employer or by another company and included notes like “too open,” “not enough exit route,” two-man job,” and “posible” (sic).

“The FBI takes very seriously our responsibility to investigate those who target and endanger innocent people in their quest for personal gain,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Sherri E. Onks.

“We will continue to work with our partners to pursue those who commit violent crimes and take advantage of others.”

The FBI’s financial investigation revealed that Saint-Louis, who had been unemployed since mid-2019, was making large cash deposits into his bank accounts (e.g., $89,939 in 2021) and gambling large amounts of money (e.g., losing $189,814 in 2021). Prosecutors said that Saint-Louis lost $39,480 gambling in the week following the Tallahassee bank robbery.

Saint-Louis’ imprisonment will be followed by three years of supervised release, and he was ordered to pay $104,840.00 in restitution.

This conviction was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Tallahassee Police Department and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys James A. McCain and Christopher M. Elsey prosecuted the case.