Tallahassee Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Bank Robbery by Threatened Use of Explosives

TALLAHASSEE, FL—Mark Daniel Fomenko, 56, of Tallahassee, pled guilty today to federal charges of bank robbery by threatened use of explosives, announced United States Attorney Pamela C. Marsh, Northern District of Florida.

On the morning of November 24, 2010, Fomenko entered the Premier Bank located at 3110 Capital Circle NE, Tallahassee, Florida, carrying a backpack. He spoke first to a bank employee and asked to meet with the bank manager. After being directed to the manager’s desk, Fomenko handed the manager a typed, one-page demand letter and, at the same time, removed what he represented to be bomb components from his backpack. Fomenko proceeded to wrap a metal chain around the bank manager, who was seated in his chair. With the device strapped to the bank manager, Fomenko demanded currency and was escorted to the teller area, where he demanded that cash be removed from three teller drawers. Ultimately, bank employees removed $25,925.00, which they placed in Fomenko’s backpack.

While the robbery was in progress, bank employees triggered a silent alarm, to which officers from the Tallahassee Police Department (TPD) responded. When Fomenko exited the bank with the stolen currency and the keys to the bank manager’s truck, he was met by several TPD officers, who immediately placed him in custody. Law enforcement later determined that the purported explosive device displayed by Fomenko during the robbery was a fake.

Sentencing on the case is set June 29, 2011, before United States District Judge Robert L. Hinkle. Fomenko faces up to 25 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine for robbery of a federally insured bank. U.S. Attorney Marsh praised the work of TPD, the Tallahassee Resident Agency of the FBI, and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, whose joint investigation led to the indictment in the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin.