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Press Release

Second Man Sentenced in Armed Robbery of Tampa Bank

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene Edward Honeywell today sentenced Keverick Lavar Brown (27, Tampa) to eight years and nine months in federal prison for bank robbery and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. The Court also ordered him to forfeit the high-capacity firearm used in the robbery. He pleaded guilty on August 27, 2014.

According to court documents, on March 14, 2014, Brown and Erskine James McKinley committed an armed robbery of a Fifth Third Bank in Tampa. Both wore hats, masks, sunglasses, gloves, and dark clothing. During the robbery, Brown pointed a loaded .45 caliber pistol at bank employees and customers. The men escaped with more than $5,000, but discarded it when a dye pack exploded in the parking lot. Later that same day, law enforcement officers located the men at Brown’s residence in Tampa. Inside the residence, they found items the pair had used in the bank robbery, including their disguises and the firearm.

McKinley (24, Belle Glade) pleaded guilty to his role in the crime on June 12, 2014. He was sentenced on October 12, 2014, to 16 years and 8 months in federal prison.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Josephine W. Thomas.

Updated February 5, 2015