A federal jury convicted Tyrone K. Jefferson, a 38-year-old Newport News resident, on Apr. 24 for a series of armed bank robberies, brandishing a firearm during violent crimes, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The case underscores the Justice Department’s focus on prosecuting violent crime and enforcing federal law. The department serves as the principal federal agency for law enforcement, according to the official website.
Court records show that Jefferson worked at a rental car company where he accessed vehicles and license plates. Between Feb. 4 and Feb. 26, 2025, he stole several license plates and used a stolen sedan to rob one credit union and two banks in Newport News by threatening tellers with firearms during two incidents. After these robberies, Jefferson visited a Portsmouth casino using the stolen vehicle.
On Feb. 27, police attempted to stop the sedan but Jefferson fled on foot after abandoning it; documents addressed to him were found inside. On March 7, he robbed another credit union while brandishing a firearm before fleeing again on foot. Police later traced him to the same Portsmouth casino on March 27 using rental paperwork in his name; they recovered a stolen handgun from his rented vehicle.
Jefferson has five prior felony convictions including assaulting a federal employee in 2018 and various weapons charges dating back to 2006. He faces at least 21 years in prison when sentenced July 23; sentencing will be determined by statutory factors considered by the court.
The FBI’s Norfolk Field Office led the investigation with help from local police departments while Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mack Coleman and Alyson C. Yates prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative marshaling resources across more than 115,000 Justice Department employees operating throughout the United States and internationally—as noted on its official website: official website. The department maintains operations in over fifty countries worldwide according to its official website.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland assumed leadership as head of the Justice Department following his swearing-in on March 11, 2021 according to its official website. Garland previously oversaw key prosecutions such as those related to the Oklahoma City bombing case during his tenure at Justice.
