United States of America v. Emmanuel Lance Howard, Evander Allen Jordan

Two Quad Cities men, Emmanuel Lance Howard, 24, of Davenport, Iowa, and Evander Allen Jordan, 39, of Rock Island, Illinois, were sentenced on December 18, 2024, for conspiracy to commit armed robbery and multiple robbery and firearms charges. Howard was sentenced to a total of fifty years of imprisonment and Jordan was sentenced to a total of one hundred and fifty years and one month of imprisonment.

Howard and Jordan were found guilty following a two-week jury trial held in August 2024. The men have remained in federal custody since they were arrested in 2021.

During the trial, the government presented evidence to establish that, in the summer and fall of 2020, Howard and Jordan committed ten separate armed robberies in the Quad Cities area, including five armed robberies of retail stores in Rock Island and Moline, one armed robbery and shooting of a man, and a carjacking of a woman in Rock Island, along with three armed robberies of retail stores in Davenport. During their violent crime spree, in which they stole firearms, money, jewelry, and other property, Howard and Jordan shot two men, pistol-whipped and assaulted others, and repeatedly threatened the lives of all of the more than 20 victims. One victim repeatedly begged for her life, and another was so terrified that she feared her young son at home, across the street from the robbery, would hear his mother being shot.

Following an extensive investigation involving the Rock Island, Davenport, and Moline police departments; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”); and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Howard and Jordan were charged in 2021 in a fifteen-count indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, five counts of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of carjacking, six counts of brandishing or discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. These charges were the result of Howard and Jordan committing the following armed robberies in Rock Island, Moline, and Davenport:

• July 31, 2020: Little Caesar’s on 18th Avenue Rock Island, Illinois

• August 14, 2020: Little Caesar’s on West Locust Street, Davenport, Iowa

• September 5, 2020: MidWest Title Loans on 11th Street, Rock Island, Illinois

• September 12, 2020: Pizza Hut on Locust Street, Davenport, Iowa

• September 12, 2020: Papa John’s on 19th Avenue, Moline, Illinois

• September 18, 2020, Carjacking, Rock Island, Illinois

• October 4, 2020: Domino’s Pizza on 14th Avenue, Rock Island, Illinois

• October 9, 2020: Kwik Shop on Telegraph Road, Davenport, Iowa

• October 16, 2020: Pawn King on 11th Street, Rock Island, Illinois

At the sentencing hearing in front of Chief U.S. District Judge Sara Darrow, the government noted the violent nature of Howard and Jordan’s crimes and the need to protect the public. Also at the hearing, Judge Darrow commented on the relentless nature of their conduct, the physical harm that they inflicted on the victims of their crimes, and the lasting impact of their crimes on the lives of others.

In addition to the sentences of imprisonment imposed in this case, Jordan – who was on supervised release for conspiracy to commit armed bank robbery, armed bank robbery, and brandishing a firearm during a robbery – also had that term of supervised release revoked.

“These crimes were committed with a viciousness that had life-altering consequences for the victims. A sentence of this magnitude will ensure these offenders are unable to harm others in the future.” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris. “The exemplary cooperation among the law enforcement professionals in Rock Island, Moline, Davenport; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, resulted in these individuals being held accountable and sent the message that violent crimes will not be tolerated in our communities.”

“The severity of this sentence holds accountable these two defendants who created fear throughout the community,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon of the Chicago Field Division. “Working collectively with our law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney’s Office strengthens our ability to investigate and prosecute these important cases.”

“I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and all law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation and successful prosecution of Emmanuel Howard and Evander Jordan,” said Chief Timothy J. McCloud of the Rock Island Police Department. “Countless hours spent bringing dangerous individuals to justice are a testament to the strength of our partnerships and commitment to providing a safer Quad Cities. We can all breathe easier knowing these two criminals will no longer threaten the safety of our great community.”

“Today’s sentencing sends a clear message to those involved in this case and anyone considering terrorizing our communities with violence. It will not be tolerated.” said Darren J. Gault, Chief of Police for the Moline Police Department. “The Quad Cities is a great place to live, visit and do business. I am grateful to our federal partners for prosecuting this interstate crime spree and bringing the offenders to justice. The Quad Cities law enforcement community works very well together and contributes to strong public safety.”

The statutory penalty for the conspiracy to commit robbery and robbery charges is up to 20 years in prison; the statutory penalty for the carjacking charge is up to 15 years in prison; the statutory penalty for the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence charge is a minimum consecutive sentence for each count charged of seven years to life in prison; the statutory penalty for the discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence charge is a minimum consecutive sentence of 10 years to life in prison; and the statutory penalty for the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon charge is up to ten years in prison. As a result, Howard faced a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of 45 years to life in prison for just the firearms offenses. Jordan had a prior federal firearms conviction for brandishing a firearm during a robbery and faced a minimum of 150 years to life in prison for the firearms offenses alone.

The case investigation was conducted by the Rock Island, Davenport, and Moline Police Departments, as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Mathew, Timothy Bass and Jeffrey Kienstra represented the government in the prosecution.

Outcome:

Howard was sentenced to a total of fifty years of imprisonment and Jordan was sentenced to a total of one hundred and fifty years and one month of imprisonment.