Berlin Man Facing Federal Indictment for Armed Bank Robbery Carjacking, and Brandishing a Firearm

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury today indicted Jeff V. Hare, age 53, of Berlin, Maryland, on charges of armed bank robbery, carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Acting Special Agent in Charge Scott Hinckley of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Worcester County Sheriff Reggie T. Mason, Sr.; Colonel William M. Pallozzi, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; and Worcester County State’s Attorney Beau Oglesby.      

According to the three-count indictment, on March 13, 2015, Hare entered the BB&T branch located at 11000 block of Racetrack Road in Berlin, wearing a ski mask and brandishing a handgun.

Hare told the bank tellers present in the bank’s lobby that he had a gun and he was robbing the bank, demanding that the tellers give him only fifty and one hundred dollar bills, and that they not give him any dye packs. Hare moved through the lobby from employee to employee pointing the handgun at the employees and demanding money. Hare also demanded each teller give him their car keys and purse, but each teller told Hare they did not have them available. Hare stole approximately $2,850 in cash from the bank.

The indictment alleges that after robbing the tellers in the lobby, Hare found a bank employee who had locked herself in a back room of the bank. Hare forced open the locked door, pointed his handgun at the employee and demanded her car keys and her purse. The employee gave Hare her purse, which contained cash and personal effects, and the keys to her car, a 2007 Kia Spectra, which was parked in the bank’s parking lot. Hare exited the bank and fled in the stolen 2007 Kia Spectra, which he abandoned at a nearby business.

Hare faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison for armed bank robbery; a maximum of 15 years in prison for carjacking; and a mandatory minimum of seven years and up to life in prison for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.  An initial appearance has not yet been scheduled for U.S. District Court in Baltimore. Hare remains detained on related state charges.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the FBI, Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, Maryland State Police and the Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution.  Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney Zachary A. Myers, who is prosecuting the case.