Tampa Man Sentenced to More Than 24 Years in Federal Prison for Armed Bank Robberies

FORT MYERS, FL—United States Attorney Robert E. O’Neill announces that U.S. District Judge John E. Steele today sentenced Kevin Franklin Stone (49, Tampa) to 24 years and eight months in federal prison for armed bank robbery and for using a firearm during a crime of violence.

Stone pled guilty on October 14, 2011.

According to court documents, on July 7, 2010, Stone entered the RBC Bank located at 24123 Peachland Boulevard, in Port Charlotte. He walked passed three bank tellers at their stations, and went directly into an employee’s office with a handgun in his waistband that was visible to the bank employee. Stone then put the gun to the employee’s back and forced her out of her office and up to the teller stations. He demanded money from the tellers, and instructed them not to push any buttons and not to put any dye packs in with the money, or he would kill the bank employee. The tellers complied with Stone’s demands and placed money into his backpack, he then fled the bank with the stolen money.

On March 17, 2011, Stone entered the Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union, located at 2310 Tamiami Trail, in Punta Gorda, wearing a surgical mask, gloves and a straw hat. He raised a gun, pointed it around the bank, and made everyone get on the floor. Stone then demanded money from each teller, while repeatedly banging his gun on the counter as he made the demands. He put the stolen bank money into a backpack, ran out of the bank, and drove away.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Violent Crime Task Force, the Punta Gorda Police Department and the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey F. Michelland.