Albany Bank Robber Pleads Guilty

ALBANY: Charles E. Peeler, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announces that Luis A. Mellado-Sanchez, age 20, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, pled guilty to Bank Robbery before District Court Judge Leslie Abrams in Albany, Georgia on September 4, 2018.  This plea subjects Mr. Mellado-Sanchez to a maximum sentence of twenty (20) years imprisonment, a maximum fine of $250,000, or both. 

At his plea hearing, Mr. Mellado-Sanchez admitted that on May 21, 2018, he entered the Regions Bank located at 333 West Broad Avenue in Albany.  He passed a note to the bank teller that stated: “I want you to put all of the $100, $50, $20 bills in an envelope and hand it to me.  If you do this quickly and without panic this will be over quickly and no one will get hurt and everyone will be happy, so please empty the cash drawers.”  The bank teller provided Mr. Mellado-Sanchez with approximately $1400.00, along with a “dye pack” with four $20 dollar bill “bait bills.”  Mr. Mellado-Sanchez placed the cash into a bag and left the bank.

After robbing the bank, Mr. Mellado-Sanchez went to a bus station, where he disposed of his disguise, along with the $20 bills wrapped around the ink pack.  Next, Mr. Mellado-Sanchez went to a Dollar General store, where he purchased a change of clothes and a razor.  Mr. Mellado-Sanchez used a church bathroom to shave his facial hair and change his clothes.

The case was investigated by the Albany Police Department, Camilla Police Department, Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah E. McEwen is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

Questions concerning this case should be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603.