Madison Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of Firearm
Admits to Providing Firearm Used in Verona Bank Robbery

MADISON, WI—Stephen P. Sinnott, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Thurman Wyatt, 30, Madison, Wis., was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Barbara B. Crabb to 188 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. Wyatt pleaded guilty to this charge on November 5, 2009.

On May 4, 2009, Wyatt and co-conspirator Reginald Ballard went to the Capitol Bank in Verona, Wis. Ballard went into the bank, robbed it at gunpoint and was arrested outside of the bank after a standoff with Verona police officers. Wyatt was found in a car near the scene. In an interview with law enforcement agents, Wyatt admitted to possessing a firearm and giving it to Ballard before the bank robbery. Wyatt has an extensive prior record that includes five prior felony convictions and was on parole for sexual assault at the time of the offense.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Crabb stated that Wyatt was a danger to the community and a lengthy sentence was necessary to protect the public. United States Attorney Sinnott praised the efforts of the bank employees and law enforcement agents involved in this investigation. Reginald Ballard was sentenced by Judge Crabb on October 28, 2009, to 11 years in prison for the bank robbery.

The charges against the defendant were the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Verona Police Department, and Dane County Sheriff’s Department. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Reinhard.