TrueAllele solves 1963 Winnebago cold case using “inconclusive” DNA

Back to Trials

United States v Curtis Johnson, Jr.

TrueAllele connects a suspect to bandana

Crime On December 18, 2013, a group of men were involved in a robbery of an armored truck outside of a New Orleans bank, killing the truck guard in a shootout.
Evidence A bandana was collected as evidence.
DNA The Louisiana State Police crime lab created DNA mixture data from the weapon.
Match Due to the limited nature of the DNA data profile, the lab was not able to fully interpret the mixture.
TrueAllele The computer found that a match between the pistol and a defendant, Curtis Johnson, Jr., is 200 times more probable than a coincidence. The error rate for this match statistic is 1 in 4,100.
Cybergenetics    On July 14, 2021, TrueAllele withstood an admissibility challenge before the evidence was presented to the jury. Then, Chief Scientist Dr. Mark Perlin and DNA analyst Jennifer Bracamontes testified before a federal court jury about the TrueAllele results. This trial resulted in a hung jury. Analyst Bracamontes testified again on March 29, 2022.
Outcome On March 31, 2022, Johnson was found guilty as charged of conspiracy, obstruction of commerce by robbery and murder, and violating the Federal Gun Control Act. He was sentenced on July 13, 2022 to 50 years in prison.
Media

  • 6 charged, with 1 on the lam, in 2013 killing of armored-truck guard NOLA.com
  • Feds charge 6 in 2013 slaying of armored truck driver Hector Trochez, capping 4-year probe NOLA.com
  • 6th suspect in 2013 killing of armored truck guard arrested in Texas NOLA.com
  • Federal prosecutors seek death penalty in 2013 case of murdered armored car worker Fox 8
  • In 2013 deadly armored truck robbery case, New Orleans jury deadlocks on charges against suspect NOLA.com
  • In deadly 2013 robbery outside New Orleans bank, the last of six defendants is convicted NOLA.com
  • Federal Trial Jury Returns Guilty Verdicts Against New Orleans Man in Connection with the 2013 Murder of Loomis Armored Guard Hector Trochez United States Attorney's Office
  • In deadly 2013 New Orleans armored truck robbery, man sentenced to 50 years in prison NOLA.com