Bank Robber Pleads Guilty to Robbing Two Banks in Salisbury
Also Admits to Robbing a Bank in Delaware
| U.S. Attorney’s Office November 29, 2011 |
BALTIMORE—Robert Joseph McLaughlin, age 39, of Lewes, Delaware, admitted today to robbing two banks in Salisbury, Maryland and a bank in Seaford, Delaware.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Salisbury Police Chief Barbara Duncan; Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis; Wicomico County State’s Attorney Matthew Maciarello; Chief Bernadette DiPino of the Ocean City Police Department; and Seaford, Delaware Police Chief Gary Morris.
According to his plea agreement, on December 9, 2009, McLaughlin entered the Citizens Bank located at 22870 Sussex Highway, Seaford, Delaware and demanded that the tellers fill a plastic bag he brought with money. The tellers filled the bag with $1,673, as well as dye packs. McLaughlin took the bag of money, removed the dye packs and left the bank.
On February 27, 2010, McLaughlin entered the Shore Bank located at 1503 S. Salisbury Boulevard in Salisbury, patted his pockets and mumbled that he forgot something. A short while later McLaughlin returned, having changed his clothing, and wearing glasses and a baseball hat. McLaughlin demanded money from a teller, who handed over $3,990 from her bank drawer. McLaughlin took the money, wrapped it inside the note and fled the bank.
On August 3, 2010, McLaughlin similarly robbed the Farmer’s Merchant Bank of Willards, located at 102 Milford Street in Salisbury, of $1,785.
As part of his plea agreement, McLaughlin agrees to pay restitution for the full amount of the losses, and in any event no less than $7,448.
McLaughlin faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on each of two counts of bank robbery in connection with the robberies of the Salisbury banks. U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake scheduled sentencing for February 24, 2012, at 2:00 p.m.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI, Salisbury Police Department, Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office, Wicomico County State’s Attorney’s Office, Ocean City Police Department and Seaford Police Department for their work in the investigation and prosecution. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Special Assistant United States Attorney Paul E. Budlow, who prosecuted the case.