Akron Man Charged with Armed Bank Robbery

Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, today announced that a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment charging Claude A. Smith, age 75, of Akron, Ohio, with the crimes of armed bank robbery, carrying and using a firearm during a crime of violence, and felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The indictment alleges that, on June 30, 2011, Claude A. Smith robbed U.S. Bank, 693 Canton Road, Akron, Ohio, of approximately $2,559 in United States currency, and during the course of the robbery, Smith assaulted and put in jeopardy the lives of tellers and employees by means of a firearm. During the bank robbery, according to the indictment, the defendant used and carried a firearm. The indictment further alleges that the defendant possessed the firearm and ammunition having been previously convicted of crimes punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year, to wit: aggravated murder, robbery, and armed robberies.

This case was part of a joint investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Akron Police Department. The matter was presented to the grand jury by Assistant United States Attorney Duane J. Deskins.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.