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Press Release

Two Kershaw County Men Sentenced for Their Roles in Armed Bank Robbery

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of South Carolina

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated that Yancy Kevon Wilson, age 23, and Randy Jones, Jr., age 23, both of Kershaw County, were sentenced yesterday afternoon in federal court for various charges stemming from the June 23, 2015, armed robbery of Sandhills Bank in Bethune, South Carolina.

In March 2017, both entered guilty pleas in federal court. Wilson plead guilty to armed bank robbery, use/possession/discharge of a firearm in connection with a crime of violence, and felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, all in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1), 924(c), 2113(a), and 2113(d). Jones plead guilty to conspiracy to commit armed bank robbery and aiding and abetting the use/possession/discharge of a firearm of a firearm in connection with a crime of violence, all in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371 and 924(c).

Chief United States District Judge Terry L. Wooten of Columbia sentenced Wilson to a total of 220 months imprisonment with 5 years of supervised release to follow. Chief Judge Wooten sentenced Jones to a total of 136 months imprisonment with 5 years of supervised release to follow. Both defendants were also ordered to make restitution to the bank for the stolen money.

Evidence presented in court established that on the early morning hours of June 23, 2015, Wilson, while armed with a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber handgun and wearing a white hoodie, sunglasses, and gloves, approached a bank employee outside the bank and forced her at gunpoint to get him inside the locked bank building. Once inside the bank, Wilson brandished the firearm and demanded money. After obtaining money, Wilson fled from the bank and discharged the firearm twice outside the bank. Witnesses heard the shots fired and observed a dark colored vehicle, later determined to be driven by Jones, with paper tags pick up Wilson and flee the scene.

On June 25, 2015, deputies with the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Department located Jones and Wilson, along with another individual with a vehicle fitting the description of the get-away vehicle at a carwash in Lugoff. Further investigation lead to the discarded clothes worn by the bank robber, Wilson, and the empty bank bag from Sandhills Bank, all of which was found on the side of a road where Jones told investigators they left them.

DNA analysis revealed Wilson’s DNA on the discarded white hoodie. Additionally, the two, fired .40 caliber shell casings recovered from the scene of the bank robbery were matched to a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber firearm purchased by Jones in February 2015. Finally, text messages were recovered from a cell phone showing that Wilson and Jones planned the bank robbery in advance. Wilson is prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition by virtue of his prior state convictions for strong arm robbery and assault and battery 1st degree.

The case was investigated by the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Department, the Bethune Police Department, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia office handled the case.

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Contact

Stacey D. Haynes (803) 929-3000

Updated July 21, 2017

Topic
Firearms Offenses