Felon Charged For Two Armed Bank Robberies

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A felon who robbed two Las Vegas banks at gunpoint on the same day and stole a total of approximately $22,000 made his initial appearance in federal court today, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.

Robert Carl Litheredge, 58, of Las Vegas, is charged in a criminal complaint with two counts of armed bank robbery, one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, one count of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. He appeared before U.S. District Magistrate Judge Carl W. Hoffman who scheduled a preliminary hearing for July 5, 2018.

According to allegations contained in the complaint, on April 17, 2018, Litheredge, who was wearing a dark colored ski mask and carrying a handgun, entered the Bank of America at 2638 Horizon Ridge Parkway in Henderson. He told the customers and employees to get down on the floor as he waved the handgun in the air. He told a teller that he wanted $100,000 while pointing the handgun at the teller who was overcome with fear. The Branch Manager stepped in and provided Litheredge with cash from the teller’s drawer. He fled the bank with $1,999.

It is further alleged that several hours later, Litheredge entered the Bank of America at 4080 Spring Mountain Road in Las Vegas. He wore a black ski mask and carried a handgun. He demanded $50,000 from a teller, then walked the teller to the back of the bank. The teller went through a door behind the teller stations and closed himself off from Litheredge who was left in the bank’s lobby. Litheredge then fired one round from his handgun into the ceiling. The teller pushed two wrapped stacks of cash totaling $20,000 through the teller window trays. Litheredge then fired another round into the ceiling before fleeing the bank.

Later that day, the Henderson Police Department released the bank robbery suspect’s photo to the media. On April 18, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department received an anonymous tip identifying Litheredge as the perpetrator. The police located Litheredge on April 19, 2018, and arrested him. Litheredge had a .45 caliber handgun on his person when he was taken into custody. Later on April 19, during an interview with detectives from the Henderson Police Department and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Litheredge admitted to robbing both banks on April 17.

Litheredge is also charged with felon in possession of a firearm. He has eight prior felony convictions including two bank robbery convictions from 2001 and 2007.

The case is being investigated by the FBI, the Henderson Police Department, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip N. Smith Jr. is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

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