Bonifay ATM robbery defendant sentenced to 15 years in prison

One of the primary suspects in the October 18, 2024, robbery of the Wells Fargo ATM in Bonifay, during which more than $100,000 was stolen, has been sentenced to 15 years in state prison, State Attorney Larry Basford announced Wednesday.

Jacorey Deshawn Hall, 27, entered an open plea on Nov. 18 to charges of robbery and grand theft of more than $100,000. The plea was entered the day after a jury had been selected by Holmes County Chief Assistant State Attorney Jacob Cook and on the day Hall’s trial was scheduled to begin. By entering an open plea, Hall admitted guilt while leaving sentencing to the discretion of the court, after all plea offers were withdrawn prior to trial.

Circuit Judge Russell Roberts imposed a 15-year prison sentence followed by 30 years of probation. Authorities also noted that Hall has outstanding warrants for similar ATM-related robberies in Texas and Wisconsin.

During sentencing, Assistant State Attorney Cook presented evidence detailing how Hall and two accomplices deliberately disabled the Bonifay ATM, triggering a service call. Investigators said the group waited more than four hours after jamming the machine. When a technician arrived to perform repairs, the suspects rushed him, forced him away from the ATM, and stole more than $100,000 in cash.

Witness statements and surveillance video enabled law enforcement to identify the getaway vehicle and track its route back toward Panama City Beach. The Bay County Sheriff’s Office later located the abandoned vehicle, along with items inside including gloves and receipts that were linked to Hall through fingerprint and DNA evidence.

Investigators also relied on social media evidence after Hall posted photos of himself with large amounts of cash. Metadata from the images indicated they were taken inside a residence rented by Hall. Prosecutors said the images were especially significant because Hall was fully masked and gloved during the robbery.

“Chief Johnny Whitaker and the Bonifay Police Department did a great job of putting the pieces together to bring Jacorey Hall to justice,” Cook said. “Organized crime will not be tolerated here in Holmes County. This was a sophisticated and calculated crime that took a lot of planning, but now Jacorey Hall has 15 years behind bars to plan better life decisions.”

Multiple law enforcement agencies from several states assisted in the investigation, which included the Bonifay robbery, a failed ATM robbery attempt in Marianna, and a previous ATM robbery in Wisconsin. Authorities said Hall was apprehended in Texas in March following a similar ATM robbery.

State Attorney Basford thanked the Bonifay Police Department and all participating agencies for their cooperation and collaboration in the multi-state investigation.

For more information, contact Mike Cazalas with the Office of the State Attorney for the 14th Judicial Circuit at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov or 850-381-7454.