Gadsden Man Convicted of Bank Robbery

BIRMINGHAM—A federal jury on Wednesday convicted a Gadsden man of bank robbery and conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard D. Schwein, Jr.

The jury convicted MARCUS TYSHUN PORTER, 33, of joining in a conspiracy and acting as a lookout during the July 16, 2008 robbery of the Wachovia Bank branch in Lenlock, Alabama. Two of Porter’s co-conspirators have already been convicted in the Northern District of Alabama of this robbery and of carjacking. Immediately after robbing the bank, the co-conspirators forced two women at gunpoint to drive them back to Gadsden, where they met up with Porter and split up the proceeds. Previously convicted for this bank robbery were GABRIEL RICE, WILLIS LEACH, and JESSE KEY. U.S. District Judge Abdul K Kallon scheduled Porter’s sentencing for November 7, 2013.

“All of the people responsible for these horrible and violent crimes have finally been brought to justice,” Vance said. “This case is part of a larger investigation involving a string of bank robberies occurring in Gadsden and the surrounding area since 2007. I commend the FBI and the entire Etowah County law enforcement community for their efforts over the past five years to solve these crimes,” she said.

The maximum sentence for these crimes is 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The FBI investigated the case, and it was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney L. James Weil, Jr. and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney E. Wilson Hunter.