ALBANY, Ga. —
Three siblings, accused of a 2011 multi-state crime spree and the subjects of a nationwide manhunt last year, are set to appear today in an Albany federal courtroom to face charges stemming from a Valdosta bank robbery last summer.
Defendants Lee Grace Dougherty, Ryan Dougherty and Dylan Stanley-Dougherty have been extradited from Colorado to Georgia to face federal charges associated with the robbery of Certus Bank on Valdosta’s Norman Drive.
The Doughertys face federal indictments on charges of bank robbery and discharging, using and carrying a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence, according to court documents. Ryan Edward Dougherty was also indicted on a federal charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The federal indictment claims $5,168 was taken from Certus Bank on Aug. 2, 2011.
During the bank robbery, the indictment claims the robbers used and carried an AK-47-style pistol rifle, one semi-automatic machine pistol, and one Mauser .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun.
Shots were fired into the ceiling of the bank, according to reports.
Referred to in national media as the Dougherty Gang, the siblings led authorities on a weeklong nationwide manhunt from shots being fired at a Florida police officer to the Valdosta bank robbery to a high-speed chase ending with a shootout in Colorado.
Following guilty pleas, the trio was recently sentenced in Colorado for charges associated with the chase and shootout between police and the Doughertys that occurred last August.
Colorado courts handed down a sentence of 18 years to Ryan, 24 years to Lee Grace and 32 years to Dylan, according to Associated Press reports. Lee Grace’s sentence was reduced from 28 years to 24 after entering a plea of guilty to several charges.
As for today’s federal court hearing, it’s unclear how any of the three defendants may plea.
Valdosta attorney John Gee Edwards will represent Lee Grace but declined comment on the case.
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