Serial Bank Robber Sentenced to Over 15 Years in Prison
To Be Served After Pending 12½ Year Federal Sentence for Four Prior Bank Robberies

GREENBELT, MD—U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte sentenced Rudolph Calvin Epps, age 38, of Maryland, today to 188 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for three counts of bank robbery and one count of attempted bank robbery. Judge Messitte enhanced Epps’ sentence upon finding that he is a career offender, based on convictions resulting from at least 10 prior armed robberies. Judge Messitte ordered that today’s sentence be served consecutive to a pending previous federal bank robbery sentence of 150 months. Judge Messitte also entered a restitution order against Epps of $15,433.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Chief Roberto L. Hylton of the Prince George’s County Police Department.

According to Epps’ guilty plea, from July 31 through August 21, 2006 Epps robbed or attempted to rob six banks, stealing a total of $13,521.

Specifically, on July 31, 2006, Epps entered the Wachovia Bank at 4323 Collington Road in Bowie, Maryland, and handed the teller a note which read “Big Bill Cash Hurry Up No One Gets Hurt Make it look like normal transaction no alarms no dye packs.” The teller took the note and left her station. Epps fled the bank and proceeded to the Chevy Chase Bank at 3400 Crain Highway in Bowie. Epps handed the teller a note which read, “Big Bills Make it look like normal I have a gun hurry up no dye pack no alarms no one gets hurt 5000.00." In fear, the teller gave Epps $5,535 and Epps fled in a silver Mercedes Benz. The demand note was left at the bank. In a similar manner, on August 10, 2006, Epps robbed the SunTrust Bank at 24 Watkins Park Drive in Upper Marlboro, stealing $1,912; on August 16, 2006, Epps robbed the Wachovia Bank at 6175 Oxon Hill Road in Oxon Hill, stealing $915; on August 18, 2006, Epps robbed the SunTrust Bank at 14118 Brandywine Road in Brandywine stealing $1,870; and on August 21, 2006, robbed the Bank of America at 9550 Fairhaven Avenue in Upper Marlboro, stealing $5,201.

Epps was arrested on August 23, 2006. When arrested, Epps was in possession of a demand note which read, “No Dye packs No Alarms Hurry Up No one gets hurt I have a gun.” Epps was supposed to have been serving a 150-month sentence in federal prison for four previous bank robberies, but was inadvertently released after serving a state sentence on unrelated charges, instead of being turned over to federal authorities to serve his federal sentence.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended Assistant United States Attorney Barbara S. Skalla, who prosecuted the case.