Bank Robber Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison

BALTIMORE, MD—U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced Gregory Steven Horn, age 38, of Glen Burnie, Maryland, today to 18 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit armed bank robbery and armed bank robbery. Judge Bredar also ordered Horn to pay restitution of $802.50 for counseling for bank employees. Horn was on supervised release at the time of the offense for a 2001 federal bank robbery conviction in Tennessee.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Stephen E. Vogt of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Chief James W. Johnson of the Baltimore County Police Department; and Chief Jeffrey Spaulding of the Westminster Police Department.

According to Horn’s plea agreement, in October 2011, Horn’s half-sister, Kelly Nicole Smith, told Horn that she was having financial problems. Horn suggested that they rob banks together in order to make money, and Smith eventually agreed. On November 2 and December 1, 2011, Horn and Smith attempted to rob banks in Parkville and Reisterstown, Maryland, respectively. In each attempt, Horn provided Smith with a wig and hat to disguise herself, and Smith entered the bank and demanded money from the bank teller, but in each instance left the bank without obtaining any money.

On December 2, 2011, Horn and Smith conspired to rob a third bank, the Farmers and Merchants Bank on Clifton Boulevard in Westminster, Maryland. Horn drove Smith to the bank and directed her to go inside, conduct surveillance to determine the presence of security and whether there was bullet proof glass on the teller station, and then return to the car with a report. Smith did as Horn directed and shortly thereafter, Horn entered the bank wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled up over his head and a black mask covering his face. Horn demanded money, displaying what appeared to be a small black handgun and placed a black bag on the counter. The teller put the money in the bag, and Horn left, stealing $1,800. Horn and Smith fled in Horn’s vehicle, driven by Horn. Law enforcement attempted to stop the vehicle, but Horn refused to stop. Law enforcement pursued Horn’s vehicle from Carroll County into Frederick County, where Horn threw something—believed to be his weapon—from the car window. Eventually, the vehicle was stopped, and Horn and Smith were arrested. The vehicle was searched, and law enforcement recovered $1,800 stolen from the bank, the hat and wig worn by Smith, and clothing consistent with the clothing worn by Horn and Smith during the robbery of the Farmers and Merchants bank. No firearm was recovered.

Kelly Nicole Smith, age 23, of Middle River, Maryland, pleaded guilty to her role in the conspiracy and was sentenced to two years in prison.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the FBI, Baltimore County Police Department, and the Westminster Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel M. Yasser, who prosecuted the case.