Cleveland man indicted for using a firearm to rob a bank in Independence last month

A Cleveland man was indicted for using a firearm to rob a bank in Independence last month.

Rolland C. Scales, Jr., 24, was indicted on one count of armed bank robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

Scales used a firearm on Sept. 10 to rob the Chase Bank at 6200 Brecksville Road, according to the indictment.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Zarzycki following an investigation by the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force and Independence Police Department.

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 records, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.  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.