De Leon Springs Man Sentenced to Seven Years for Armed Bank Robbery

ORLANDO, FL—Senior U.S. District Judge Gregory A. Presnell yesterday sentenced Robert Gordon Shaw (37, De Leon Springs) to seven years in federal prison for armed bank robbery. Shaw pleaded guilty on August 1, 2013.

According to court documents, on April 19, 2013, Shaw conspired with another individual (Matthew Anthony Cosimini) to rob a Regions Bank in Sanford, Florida. During the course of the robbery, they displayed a fake explosive detonation device, passed a note to a bank teller demanding money, and indicated that an explosive had been placed inside the bank. While committing the offense, Shaw and Cosimini also possessed a semiautomatic pistol with ammunition.

After Shaw passed the demand note and displayed the detonation device, the bank teller handed Shaw approximately $14,098 in bank funds. Shaw and Cosimini fled in a stolen vehicle as responding officers from the Sanford Police Department pursued them. During the pursuit, Shaw caused damage to both a police vehicle and a civilian’s vehicle. Police officers apprehended Shaw and Cosimini approximately one mile from the bank and recovered the semiautomatic handgun and fake detonation device from the stolen vehicle.

Further investigation revealed that the detonation device was a hoax and that there were no explosives inside the bank. The investigation also determined that Cosimini and Shaw had planned to rob the bank together.

Cosimini pleaded guilty to his role in the offense on August 29, 2013. He was sentenced on November 25, 2013, to six and a half years in federal prison.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Sanford Police Department and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew C. Searle.