Man Sentenced For Wilson PNC Bank Robbery

WILMINGTON – United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced today in federal court, Senior United States District Judge James C. Fox sentenced ROBERT EARL MAYS, 58, from the District of Columbia, to 125 months imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release.  On July 6, 2015 a federal jury convicted MAYS and PARIS CORDAVA WILLIAMS of bank robbery and aiding and abetting.  WILLIAMS also was found guilty of possession of a firearm by a felon.  Prior to trial, on June 29, 2015, a third defendant RICKY FRANKS pled guilty to bank robbery; aiding and abetting and felon in possession of a firearm. WILLIAMS and FRANKS are scheduled for sentencing for the November 2, 2015, term of court.

According to the investigation, MAYS, WILLIAMS, and FRANKS were traveling in a car rented by FRANKS from the District of Columbia.  On November 13, 2014, close to closing time, WILLIAMS and FRANKS entered the PNC Bank located at 3401 Raleigh Road Parkway in Wilson, North Carolina and robbed it.  FRANKS vaulted the teller counter and took approximately $1,579.00 in United States currency from a teller’s drawer.  When FRANKS grabbed the money, he also grabbed the GPS tracking device.  FRANKS and WILLIAMS hid with the money and tracking device in the trunk of the rental car.  MAYS drove the car a short distance away.  The Wilson Police Department was alerted of the robbery and also notified that the moving tracking device became stationary on Raleigh Road.  After a systematic search of cars in a stopped line of traffic near the bank, by Wilson Police Department officers, officers located FRANKS and WILLIAMS in the car’s trunk with the bag of money, GPS tracker and a firearm.

Investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Wilson Police Department.  The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives also assisted.  Assistant United States Attorneys S. Katherine Burnette and Carrie D. Randa represented the government.