Ohio Man Gets 22 Years in Prison for Armed Bank Robbery in North Alabama

BIRMINGHAM—A federal judge sentenced an Ohio man Wednesday to more than 22 years in prison for the September 2010 robbery of a North Alabama bank, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and FBI Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Maley.

U.S. District Judge Inge P. Johnson sentenced STEFAN CHADWICK CRAWMER, 43, of Columbus, Ohio, for robbing the Wells Fargo Bank in Madison of $8,050, for using a Makarov 9mm semi-automatic handgun in the robbery, and for being a convicted felon in possession of that firearm. Judge Johnson sentenced Crawmer to 15 years and eight months in prison for the armed robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm. She added the minimum mandatory seven years in prison for his use of a firearm during the robbery.

Crawmer pleaded guilty to the charges in August. At the time of the Wells Fargo robbery, Crawmer was supposed to be under electronic monitoring as a condition of his pretrial release in the Southern District of Ohio where he was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to Ohio federal court records, Crawmer cut the electronic monitor off his ankle and fled his residence in May 2010.

“This defendant is a career criminal with at least four felony convictions prior to the bank robbery in Alabama,” Vance said. “This is the type of career criminal who must be taken off the streets and locked in prison. Thanks to the quick response of Madison Police, who apprehended Crawmer shortly after the robbery, and their collaborative work with the FBI, this defendant will be in prison for a long time,” Vance said.

“I want to express my appreciation to the Madison Police Department and agents from our Huntsville Resident Agency for their efforts in bringing this violent criminal to justice,” Maley said. “The sentence is fitting for this violent felon.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura D. Hodge prosecuted the case.