Charlotte Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Crimes Related to September 2008 Gastonia Bank Robbery Attempt
| U.S. Attorney’s Office November 10, 2010 |
CHARLOTTE, NC—Today, a Charlotte man received life in prison in connection with the attempted robbery of the Fort Financial Credit Union on New Hope Road in Gastonia, in September 2008. Larry Whitfield, 22, of Charlotte, was sentenced in federal court today for his crime. Whitfield was found guilty on November 20, 2009 by a federal jury on four criminal counts: 1) attempted bank robbery and aiding and abetting same; 2) conspiracy to use and carry firearms and to intentionally possess firearms during and in relation to a crime of violence; 3) use and carrying of firearms and possession of firearms during and in relation to a crime of violence and aiding and abetting same; and 4) in attempting to avoid apprehension for the attempted bank robbery, having forced a woman to accompany him without her consent, resulting in her death.
U.S. Attorney Anne M. Tompkins is joined in making today’s announcement by Chief Tim Adams of the Gastonia Police Department; Chief Bill Farley of the Gaston County Police Department; and Owen D. Harris, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Operations in North Carolina.
A federal indictment charging two defendants, Larry Whitfield and Quanterrious McCoy, in connection with the attempted bank robbery in Gastonia was filed in January 2009 in U.S. District Court. The Honorable Robert J. Conrad, Jr., Chief, U.S. District Judge for the Western District of North Carolina delivered the maximum sentence of life imprisonment for Whitfield today. Whitfield has remained in federal custody since his conviction. Whitfield’s co-defendant, Quanterrious McCoy, previously pled guilty and was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for one count of attempted bank robbery and three counts of use and carrying of firearms and in relation to a crime of violence and aiding and abetting the same.
The prosecution was handled for the government by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas O’Malley. Federal sentences are served without the possibility of parole.