Greenville Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Robbery

COLUMBIA, SC—United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated today that Bruce Lee Windsor, age 43, of Greenville, pled guilty today in federal court in Spartanburg, to armed bank robbery and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, both violations of federal law. United States District Judge Henry F. Floyd accepted the plea and will impose sentence at a later date.

On February 26, 2009, Windsor entered the Greenville First Bank on Verdae Boulevard in Greenville wearing a mask, wig, hat, and sunglasses. While brandishing a gun, he approached a bank employee and forced her to go into an office where he presented a demand note. The typed three-page note indicated that the robber was part of an organization that had the bank surrounded and, unless the employee did exactly as she was instructed, they would kill her. The robber also indicated he was aware of other bank employees’ relatives and their locations, and unless his demands were met, they would be harmed. Several individuals had seen Windsor enter the bank wearing the disguise and called 911 to report a robbery. Law enforcement responded and surrounded the bank. Windsor was arrested after a brief stand-off.

Mr. Wilkins stated the maximum penalty Windsor can receive is imprisonment for 25 years and a fine of $500,000.00.

The case was investigated by agents of the FBI, the Greenville Police Department, and the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Jeanne Howard of the Greenville office handled the case.