Federal Jury Convicts Bank Robber

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal jury in the Western District of North Carolina convicted Ronald McKnight, 44, of Charlotte, of two charges of bank robbery, following a two-day trial that ended today, announced Jill Westmoreland Rose, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

U.S. Attorney Rose is joined in making today’s announcement by John A. Strong, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in North Carolina, and Chief Kerr Putney of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department.

Evidence presented at trial established that on January 5, 2015, McKnight entered a Fifth Third Bank branch located at 212 South Tryon Street in Charlotte, and presented a note to the teller that read, “Robbery. 100’s 50’s 20’s. No die packs.” The teller handed over $1,732 in U.S. currency from her drawer and McKnight left. Then, on January 9, 2015, McKnight entered a second bank, a Wells Fargo Bank branch located at 2910 South Boulevard, in Charlotte, and presented a note to the teller, using the same wording as in the previous robbery. The teller handed over $1,660 and McKnight left. McKnight was arrested later that same day.

McKnight has been in federal custody since January 2015. He will remain in custody until his sentencing date, which has not been set. McKnight faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years for each charge, and a fine of up to $250,000.

The FBI and CMPD led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven R. Kaufman is prosecuting the case.