Anchorage Man Indicted by Federal Grand Jury for Bank Robbery

ANCHORAGE, AK—United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today, November 30, 2009, that Michael William Eastham, of Anchorage, Alaska, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Anchorage for one count of bank robbery.

The one-count indictment named Eastham, age 37, as the sole defendant.

According to the indictment, Eastham is alleged to have robbed the Alaska USA Federal Credit Union branch located at 2000 W. Dimond Blvd. in Anchorage on August 28, 2008, and is alleged to have taken approximately $1,700 of the credit union's funds during the robbery.

Assistant United States Attorney Joseph W. Bottini, who presented the case to the grand jury, indicated that the law provides for a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for bank robbery as well as fines totaling up to $250,000 and up to five of supervised release following service of a prison sentence. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Eastham remains in custody since his arrest on November 25, 2009.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Anchorage Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.