Serial Bank Robber Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison

ALEXANDRIA, Va. –Thomas B. Peeler, 47, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 240 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for the armed robberies of a BB&T bank in Alexandria and a GameStop store in Clementon, New Jersey. He was also ordered to pay $63,045.88 in restitution.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Andrew G. McCabe, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga.

Peeler pleaded guilty on November 7, 2014.  According to court documents, within nine months of being released from a 10 year federal prison sentence for a prior bank robbery, Peeler committed two armed robberies in Alexandria and one armed robbery in Clementon, New Jersey. At sentencing, the court also noted that the defendant committed three additional robberies in New Jersey during this period of time.

As part of his plea agreement, the defendant admitted that he brandished a firearm and threatened to harm or kill employees during his robbery of BB&T bank on April 22, 2010. The defendant also admitted that he displayed a firearm during his robbery of GameStop on May 7, 2010. Peeler was ultimately connected to both robberies after two citizens observed Peeler walking to a getaway car outside the BB&T bank after the robbery and noted the vehicle’s license plate.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office’s Violent Crimes Task Force with assistance from WFO's Evidence Response Team, the FBI Laboratory’s Forensic Audio Video Image Analysis Unit, and the FBI Laboratory’s Chemistry Unit. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Heberle and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebeca H. Bellows prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:14-cr-288.