Lugoff Man Sentenced for Robbing Local Bank

COLUMBIA, SC—United States Attorney William N. Nettles stated that Reginald Malik Watson, age 29, of Lugoff, South Carolina, was sentenced today in federal court in Columbia, South Carolina, for Armed Bank Robbery, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(a), and Carrying a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c). United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson sentenced Watson to 154 months in federal prison.

Evidence established that on February 11, 2008, Watson and Chad Moore robbed the First Citizens Bank in Lugoff, South Carolina. Watson and Moore came into the bank wearing dark clothing and had their faces covered with goggles. Watson possessed an assault rifle and held the employees hostage as Moore jumped over the counter and removed money from the teller’s drawers. The robbers then fled the scene. Later, a citizen gave deputies a tip about Watson’s and Moore’s involvement.

Moore has also pled guilty and will be sentenced later.

The case was investigated by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney William K. Witherspoon of the Columbia office handled the case.