New Orleans Woman Sentenced For Attempted Bank Robbery

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced on Wednesday, October 14, 2020, that SANDRA DUMAS, age 71, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana was sentenced to a one-count Bill of Information charging her with attempted bank robbery in violation of federal law.

According to court documents, on April 23, 2018, DUMAS entered the Liberty Bank located at 7200 Crowder Boulevard, while in possession of a Crown Royal bag.  DUMAS fabricated a story about her granddaughter being held hostage by a man who threatened to harm her granddaughter if DUMAS did not get money from the bank.  DUMAS claimed to be in possession of a bomb that was contained within the Crown Royal bag.  Bank employees responded by contacting the New Orleans Police Department.  DUMAS fled the bank.  No money was taken from the bank during the robbery.

Judge Triche Jane Milazzo sentenced DUMAS to credit for time served, to be followed by a (3) three year term of supervised release.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department.  This case is being prosecuted by Brittany Reed of the Violent Crime/Strike Force Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.