“Red Handed” Bank Robber Pleads Guilty

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office; and Paul O’Connell, Chief, Wilton Manors Police Department, announced that defendant Cedrick Shivers, 47, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, pled guilty earlier today in U.S. District Court to bank robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(a). Sentencing is scheduled for July 27, 2012. Shivers faces maximum statutory sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

According to charges and statements made during the plea hearing, on February 3, 2012, Shivers entered a bank in Wilton Manors, Florida. Shivers approached the teller and presented a hand written note telling the teller that this was a robbery, not to active any silent alarms, and not to provide him with any dye packs. Shivers’ note also instructed the teller to give him only $50 and $100 bills and warned that if the teller did not comply, an accomplice would bomb the building.

After fleeing the bank, a Wilton Manors Police officer saw Shivers speeding off in his vehicle. The officer conducted a traffic stop. The officer observed red smoke in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, red dye-stained money on the front driver’s seat, and red dye stains on Shivers’ white T-shirt. The officer then recovered the demand note from the driver’s side floor board of the vehicle. Upon arrest, Shivers told officers, “You got me red handed,” which was a reference to the residual red dye on his hands.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI and Wilton Manors Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Katz.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.