Serial Bank Robber Sentenced to 272 Months in Federal Prison

BOISE—Bryan Mark Johnson, 55, of Las Vegas, Nevada, was sentenced in United States District Court today for robbing two Boise banks, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. U.S. District Judge David O. Carter sentenced Johnson to 272 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered him to pay $23,033 in restitution. He pleaded guilty on October 19, 2011 to two counts of bank robbery, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm, and one count of using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Co-defendant Melvin Glen Lantis, 65, also of Las Vegas, Nevada, was sentenced on January 6, 2012 to 63 months in prison for one count of bank robbery.

According to the plea agreement and arguments made at sentencing, Johnson admitted to traveling to Boise from Las Vegas, Nevada because he believed Boise would be an easy target to rob banks because of its isolated location and relatively low crime rate. On April 22, 2011, Johnson entered the Key Bank branch at 4920 W. Overland Road. He approached two bank tellers and directed them to give him all of their money. A citizen who was visiting his daughter, an employee of the bank, followed Johnson out of the bank as he left with $13,082 in cash. As he left the bank, Johnson turned and pointed a 9mm semi-automatic pistol at the citizen, who then retreated into the bank. Johnson and his getaway driver, Melvin Glen Lantis, were apprehended by Boise Police officers moments later.

After Johnson’s arrest, he confessed to robbing the Wells Fargo Bank at 10342 Overland Road in Boise, on April 2, 2011. Johnson further confessed to robbing a Bank of America in Las Vegas, Nevada; two casino stores in Las Vegas within 45 minutes of each other; and two banks in Tuscon, Arizona, all in February of 2011.

Johnson was released from federal prison in January of 2011 after serving a 105-month sentence for six bank robberies committed in the District of Nevada. He had also been convicted in 1991 in the District of Nevada for bank robbery. Because Johnson had two prior convictions for crimes of violence, he was sentenced as an armed career criminal, which carries a penalty of a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years to life imprisonment.

“This well-deserved sentence will protect the community from the serious threat that Mr. Johnson posed to society,” said Olson. “We commend the Boise Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their efforts that ensured Mr. Johnson would be held accountable for his repeated violent acts.”

The case was investigated by the Boise Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.