Serial Bank Robber Pleads Guilty

TAMPA, FL—Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Marcus Dontell Lloyd (35, Port Charlotte) pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to commit bank robbery and one count of bank robbery. Lloyd faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison for the conspiracy count and up to 20 years in federal prison for the bank robbery offense.

According to the plea agreement, Lloyd, aided and abetted by a separately charged woman named Kaylee Sanchez, committed a series of bank robberies in the Middle District of Florida between July 26, 2012 and August 21, 2012. While robbing the banks, Lloyd used helmets, hats, sunglasses, and—on at least one occasion—a wig to disguise his appearance. Lloyd did not display or indicate that he had a weapon while committing the robberies, but would jump or climb over the teller counter and literally grab cash from the teller drawers. Sanchez acted as his getaway driver.

Lloyd’s bank robberies included a TD Bank in Apollo Beach on July 27; a Bank of America (BOA) in Lakeland on July 27; a BB&T Bank in New Port Richey on July 31; a BOA in Ormond Beach on August 2; and a BOA in Belleview on August 13, 2012. On August 21, 2012, Lloyd and Sanchez were arrested following a car and foot chase, after Lloyd had robbed a Bank of America bank in Boynton Beach. Lloyd dropped a bag with most of the bank money while running away from police officers. In total, Lloyd’s robberies totaled more than $91,000.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark E. Bini.