Armed Bank Robber Gets 19 Years in Prison

GRAND RAPIDS, MI—Shariff Marcelle Williams, 33, from Grand Rapids, Michigan, was sentenced to 19 years in prison for armed bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during a robbery, announced U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Miles, Jr. today. U.S. District Judge Robert J. Jonker sentenced Williams to 12 years on the armed bank robbery charge and seven years on the brandishing a firearm during a robbery charge, to be served consecutively. Williams must also pay $43,762.95 in restitution. At the sentencing hearing, Judge Jonker noted Williams’ prior history of violent crimes, including two prior robberies in 2007.

In May 2012, Williams committed two armed bank robberies in Grand Rapids—the May 7 robbery of the PNC Bank branch located on Lake Eastbrook Boulevard and the May 24 robbery of the Fifth/Third Bank branch located on Chicago Drive. During the robbery of the Fifth/Third Bank, Williams produced a semi-automatic handgun from his waistband, racked a round into the weapon’s chamber, and started waving the handgun around to make the bank employees move faster.

Williams was apprehended after his failed attempt to rob the same PNC Bank branch on October 5, 2012. Employees at PNC Bank saw Williams approaching dressed in a dark, hooded sweatshirt and wearing a dark mask and gloves. The employees locked the door and called for the police. After a short chase, Williams was arrested, as was his accomplice, Rosheda Durham, who was acting as the getaway driver. Durham was sentenced in a separate proceeding in March 2013. She was sentenced to serve one year in custody and also ordered to pay restitution.

This case was investigated by the FBI. Prosecution of the case is assigned to Daniel Y. Mekaru, Assistant U.S. Attorney.