Silver Spring Man Pleads Guilty to Two Bank Robberies

Baltimore, Maryland – Paul Milton Laney, age 61, of Silver Spring, Maryland pleaded guilty today to committing two bank robberies within three days.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Stephen E. Vogt of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police Department.

According to Laney’s plea agreement, on February 18, 2014, Laney entered a bank in the 13000 block of Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring and demanded that the teller put money in a plastic bag that he threw over the counter.  The victim teller was frightened and didn’t immediately comply.  Laney then leapt up onto the counter, took money directly from the register and stuffed the money into the plastic bag, stealing approximately $2,920.  As Laney was leaving, a bank employee approached Laney and attempted to stop him.  Laney stated, “If you take another step closer, I’ll blow your head off.”  The employee stepped away and allowed Laney to exit the bank.

On February 21, 2014, Laney entered a bank in the 8700 block of Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring, approached one of the tellers, threw a plastic bag over the counter and stated, “This is an armed robbery.  I want all your $100s and $50s.”  The teller was frightened and was slow to put money in the bag.  Laney leaned over the counter and revealed a large kitchen knife inside his jacket and threated to kill the teller.  The teller then removed approximately $999 from the register, placed the cash in the bag and handed it to Laney, who exited the bank.

Laney faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for each of the two counts of bank robbery.  U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte has scheduled sentencing for August 19, 2015 at 9:30 a.m.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI and Montgomery County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel C. Gardner, who is prosecuting the case.