News Release from our law enforcement partner, the United States Attorney’s Office – District of South Carolina
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA – Following the armed robbery of a bank ATM on Fairfield Road in Columbia, five Columbia men have been sentenced collectively to more than 42 years in federal prison:
- Anthony Bernard Hopkins, a/k/a “Tony Cash,” 34, was sentenced to more than 12 years (154 months) in prison after pleading guilty to Armed Bank Robbery and Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of Crime of Violence.
- Kenneth Boyles, Jr., a/k/a “Kilo”, 22, was sentenced to more than 11 years (141 months) in prison after pleading guilty to Armed Bank Robbery and Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of Crime of Violence.
- Aquan Shanard Hopkins, 28, was sentenced to more than 8 years (97 months) in prison after pleading guilty to Armed Bank Robbery and Possession of a Stolen Firearm.
- Denzel Malik Goodwin, a/k/a “Zell”, 26, of Columbia, South Carolina, and Kansas City, Missouri, was sentenced to more than 6 years (73 months) in prison after pleading guilty to Armed Bank Robbery and Possession of a Stolen Firearm.
- Antwan Kanard Hopkins, 35, was sentenced to more than 4 years (50 months) in prison after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute a Quantity of Marijuana.
Evidence presented to the Court showed that around 4:00 PM on May 31, 2020, six subjects (Anthony Hopkins, Kenneth Boyles, Aquan Hopkins, Denzel Goodwin, and two minors) participated in the armed bank robbery an ATM on Fairfield Road in Columbia while it was being serviced by a technician and protected by an armed security guard. Evidence presented also indicated all of the defendants are relatives: Aquan Hopkins, Anthony Hopkins, Antwan Hopkins, and Kenneth Boyles are brothers, and Denzel Goodwin is their cousin.
Surveillance video showed a Dodge Charger parked behind the ATM and a Chevrolet Caprice parked in the drive-through lane of the ATM. Both vehicles belonged to Aquan Hopkins.
The private security guard noticed the Caprice pull in, and she approached the vehicle to advise that the ATM was closed. While she was walking toward the Caprice, Aquan Hopkins, wearing a ski mask, placed the muzzle of a long gun to her head; that gun had an extended drum magazine attached. Aquan Hopkins laid the security guard face-down on the ground at gunpoint. A minor who participated in the robbery then stole the security guard’s Glock 9mm service pistol.
The ATM service technician then fled on foot, and with the ATM open, Anthony Hopkins and Kenneth Boyles stole $108,940 from the ATM. The defendants returned to the two cars and fled to an apartment complex where a family member lived to split the proceeds. Denzel Goodwin and the second minor remained in the vehicles throughout the robbery.
Homes associated with the defendants were searched. Law enforcement recovered more than $32,000 in robbery proceeds, four firearms (including the long gun used), ammunition, and the drum magazine used, which was loaded with 46 rounds. At the time of the robbery, Aquan Hopkins served as a Staff Sergeant in the United States Air Force as a security forces Airman.
Antwan Hopkins was prosecuted in a related case. When a house was searched following the robbery, he was found in possession of more than 200 grams of marijuana packaged for distribution, two firearms (an Anderson AM 15 rifle loaded with 22 rounds and an FN Five-Seven 5.56mm pistol loaded with 21 rounds), a bill counter, a digital scale, and vacuum-seal bags. Antwan Hopkins had numerous prior drug and firearm-related felony convictions that prohibited him from possessing firearms under federal law. Anthony Hopkins and Kenneth Boyes also had prior felony convictions at the time of the robbery.
Anthony Hopkins was arrested by the FBI and the United States Marshals in California, where he fled after his photograph in the robbery was broadcast on the news. Denzel Goodwin was arrested by the United States Marshals in Missouri. Kenneth Boyles was arrested in Florence, South Carolina, on a bus with fake identification.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Anthony Hopkins, Kenneth Boyles, and Denzel Goodwin, and United States District Judge J. Michelle Childs sentenced Antwan Hopkins and Aquan Hopkins. All five defendants are subject to between 3 and 5 years of court-ordered supervision following their terms of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
Anthony Hopkins, Kenneth Boyles, Aquan Hopkins, and Denzel Goodwin were ordered to pay $108,940 in restitution to the victim bank.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the City of Columbia Police Department, and the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliott B. Daniels prosecuted the case.
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CONTACT PERSON: Brook Andrews, First Assistant United States Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office, [email protected], 803-929-3000.