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Press Release

Virginia Beach Man Sentenced for Multiple Bank Robberies

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Virginia

RICHMOND, Va. – A Virginia Beach man was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for multiple bank robberies committed throughout Virginia and North Carolina. 

According to court documents, Russell T. Carter, 50, committed 11 bank robberies and one attempted bank robbery beginning in March 2016 and continuing until November 2017. In almost all of the robberies, Carter would enter the bank and display a note to the teller that stated he had a firearm and demanded money. Carter robbed Union Bank and Trust branches located in Fredericksburg, Mechanicsville, and two branches in Henrico. He also robbed BB&T branches located in Hanover and Mechanicsville, and Wells Fargo branches located in Henrico and Durham, North Carolina. Carter also robbed a Citizens and Farmers Bank branch located in Mechanicsville, and a Cardinal Bank branch and PNC Bank branch, both located in Stafford.

In addition to the prison sentence, Carter was ordered to pay approximately $24,000 in restitution.  In sentencing the defendant, U.S. District Court Judge John A. Gibney Jr., granted the government’s motion for upward variance and sentenced Carter to 20 years, which was above the advisory guidelines of 10 to 12 years.

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. 

G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Adam S. Lee, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney, Jr. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter S. Duffey prosecuted the case.

This case was investigated by FBI Richmond’s Central Virginia Violent Crime Task Force.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:17-cr-166.

Contact

Joshua Stueve
Director of Communications
joshua.stueve@usdoj.gov

Updated July 19, 2018

Topic
Violent Crime