Armed Bank Robber Sentenced to Over 32 Years in Prison for Two Bank Robberies

BALTIMORE, MD—U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles, Jr., sentenced Patrick Leon Dixon, III, age 22, of Denton, Maryland, today to 390 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for armed bank robbery and using a gun during the commission of an armed bank robbery. Judge Quarles enhanced Dixon’s sentence upon finding that Dixon is a career offender based on three previous convictions for burglary, assault and reckless endangerment.

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; Special Agent in Charge Theresa R. Stoop of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division Chief William Ryan of the Elkton Police Department; and Harford County Sheriff L. Jesse Bane.

According to Dixon’s guilty plea, on February 9, 2009, Dixon entered the Cecil Bank at 1609 Pulaski Highway, Havre de Grace, Maryland and placed a note on the counter demanding money. As the teller was complying with the demand, Dixon displayed what appeared to be a handgun in his waistband and brandished a shotgun. Dixon grabbed $6,249 that the teller placed on the counter, and fled into a waiting pick-up truck driven by Keith Osterman. Dixon and Osterman were apprehended shortly thereafter, and money from the bank robbery was recovered from the truck. A search of the truck revealed a loaded 12 gauge shotgun under the passenger seat. Dixon claimed that he discarded the handgun after he ran from the bank.

Three days earlier, on February 6, Dixon and Osterman also robbed the Cecil Bank at 114 E. Pulaski Highway in Elkton, Maryland, where they stole $2,258 in a similar manner.

Previously, Judge Quarles sentenced Keith Osterman, age 28, of Denton, Maryland to 126 months in prison for his participation in the robberies.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI, ATF, the Elkton Police Department and the Harford Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys P. Michael Cunningham and Mushtaq Gunja, who prosecuted the case.