Chesapeake Man Sentenced to 221 Years in Prison for Bank Robberies and Related Firearms Charges

NORFOLK, VA—Leonard Earl Roulhac, 39, of Chesapeake, Va., was sentenced today in Norfolk federal court to 221 years in prison for multiple bank robberies and related firearms charges. He was also ordered to pay $37,407.50 in restitution. Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after Roulhac was sentenced by United States District Judge Mark S. Davis. Roulhac was previously convicted on March 22, 2010, after a five-day trial.

“Roulhac’s criminal activity terrorized the victims of his crimes, and it’s fortunate no one was hurt during his crime spree,” said U.S. Attorney MacBride.

According to the trial testimony and evidence, over a six-month period, from December of 2008 to May 2009, Roulhac robbed or attempted to rob 12 financial institutions in the Hampton Roads area while using or implying he would use a firearm. During the last robbery on May 18, 2009, Roulhac was spotted by a Chesapeake police officer leaving the scene in a stolen car. The officer followed Roulhac and ended up in a 15 minute chase down Route 58 into Suffolk. In an attempt to cause a crash so he could lose the police pursuit, Roulhac drove on the wrong side of the road while reaching the speed of 110 mph. Roulhac crashed the car in the woods in Suffolk and then ran into the trees with the officer right behind him. Roulhac tried to stash the stolen money and his gun in the woods, but was caught a few yards away.

This case was investigated by the Norfolk offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with the assistance of the Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach Police Departments. Assistant United States Attorney Sherrie Capotosto and Special Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Fitzwater prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on https://pcl.uscourts.gov.