Cedar Rapids man pleads guilty to four bank robberies

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Cedar Rapids man pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to robbing two U.S. Bank and two Guaranty Bank branches from April to June.

Javon Dockery, 29, pleaded guilty to four counts of bank robbery and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence in U.S. District Court. He faces seven years to life in prison.

During the hearing, Dockery admitted to robbing the U.S. Bank, 129 16th Ave. SW, on April 30 and June 26, and admitted to brandishing a semi-automatic handgun and demanding money in the June 26 robbery.

Bria Daudinot, 21, of Cedar Rapids, was also charged in that robbery. She is accused of aiding and abetting in the bank robbery.

Dockery also admitted during the plea that he robbed Guaranty Bank, 2711 Bever Ave. SE, May 16 and 29. According to the criminal complaint, Dockery took over $35,000 in cash.

Cedar Rapids police arrested Dockery and Daudinot after a short chase following the June 26 robbery. Police said Daudinot, accused as the getaway driver, threw cash out the window during the chase, but Dockery had a large amount of cash and a surgical mask in his jeans, which he was reported as wearing during the robbery. The couple were eventually captured after crashing into at least one vehicle, a KCRG-TV9 vehicle.

According to the court documents, Dockery admitted to throwing the gun from the van during the chase. He also said he told Daudinot he was going to rob someone for money earlier in the day and told her to meet him in the alley behind the bank.

Daudinot denied knowing anything about robbing a bank, according to the documents. She said she dropped off Dockery in the area to look for apartments and denied seeing a firearm or money in the van.

According to a detention order, officers seized Daudinot's cellphone, which contained three photos implicating the couple in the May 29 bank robbery. The photos show Dockery and Daudinot holding stacks of bills and Daudinot holding a young child, who is holding a stack of money.

Dockery faces up to 20 years on each bank robbery count and a mandatory seven years to life on the firearm charge. Dockery also has previous convictions which could be used by the prosecutor to increase his prison time. According to the plea agreement, Dockery also will be required to pay over $35,000 in restitution to the banks and forfeit the firearm and any ammunition.

According to court documents, Daudinot will plead guilty in court Monday.

l Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com