MySpace Bank Robber Sentenced to Federal Prison

COLUMBIA, SC—United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated today that Joseph Wade Northington, age 28, of Roanoke, Virginia, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for using a firearm during a crime of violence, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c). United States District Judge Margaret B. Seymour also ordered that Northington must pay $3,924 in restitution and be on supervised release for five years after he is released from prison.

Northington pled guilty to using a firearm on January 20, 2009, during the robbery of Security Federal Bank in North Augusta. He pointed a gun at bank employees and handed one teller a note that read, “This is a robbery. Put tha money in tha bag.” After bank surveillance photos were shown on TV, a man who had served with Northington in the Army recognized him and contacted the FBI. During the investigation to locate Northington, law enforcement officials located a message on Northington’s myspace.com page that read: “One in the head still ain’t dead!!!!!! On tha run for robbin a bank. Love all of yall.” He was arrested soon thereafter.

The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Winston D. Holliday, Jr., of the Columbia office handled the case.