Brandywine Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Bank Robbery

BALTIMORE—Samuel Sullivan, Jr., age 36, of Brandywine, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to armed bank robbery and possession and use of a firearm during a crime of violence.

The guilty plea 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 Anne Arundel County Police Chief James Teare, Sr.

According to Sullivan’s plea agreement, on December 28, 2009, Sullivan met with a cousin, Andrew Hooker-Orange to plan a bank robbery. The next day, Hooker-Orange stole a loaded .40 caliber Glock semi-automatic handgun from his mother’s house for use in the robbery. On December 30, 2009, Sullivan drove his cousin to the BB&T Bank in Crofton, Maryland. They parked the car in a nearby residential neighborhood and Hooker-Orange gave Sullivan the gun for use during the robbery. Sullivan and Hooker-Orange, wearing ski masks and identical clothing, entered the bank and announced the robbery. Sullivan brandished the gun and threatened the bank employees if they did not cooperate. Sullivan positioned himself by the front door, while Hooker-Orange vaulted over the glass partition and took money from three teller stations, totaling $10,728. The pair then fled in Sullivan’s white Mercedes SUV. A witness called police and gave a description of the vehicle, which was spotted by law enforcement. A high-speed pursuit ended in Prince George’s County, where Sullivan and Hooker-Orange bailed out of the SUV and fled on foot. They were subsequently apprehended, and a backpack containing $9,484 and the gun were recovered, as well as $1,180 in cash which Sullivan had on his person.

Sullivan was interviewed and admitted his participation in the robbery, but falsely stated that he was the getaway driver and did not go in the bank. In October 2010, while Hooker-Orange and Sullivan were incarcerated at the same facility, Hooker-Orange signed a letter that falsely stated that Sullivan knew nothing about the Robbery. In January 2011, Sullivan also sent a copy of the false exculpatory letter to the court.

Sullivan faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison for the armed robbery and a minimum of seven years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, and a maximum of life in prison, for the use of a firearm during a crime of violence. U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz, has scheduled sentencing for March 1, 2012 at 9:00 a.m.

Andrew Jamar Hooker-Orange, age 23, also of Brandywine, pleaded guilty to his role in the robbery and is scheduled to be sentenced on January 24, 2012 at 9:00 a.m.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI and Anne Arundel County Police for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Rachel M. Yasser and Justin S. Herring, who are prosecuting the case.