Tulia Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Robbing Banks in Plainview and Amarillo, Texas

AMARILLO, TX—Tyrone Luvoid Hutcherson, 41, of Tulia, Texas, who was convicted of two counts of bank robbery, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson to serve 20 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. In addition, Judge Robinson ordered that Hutcherson pay restitution and serve a lifetime of supervised release.

Hutcherson, of Tulia, Texas, was convicted by a federal jury in October 2009 on two counts of bank robbery. Specifically, the jury found that on April 3, 2008, Hutcherson robbed the west branch of the Hale County State Bank, located at 3201 Olton Road in Plainview, Texas. Shortly after 9:00 a.m., Hutcherson approached a bank teller, indicated that he had a weapon in the pocket of his sweatshirt, demanded all of the cash at the teller station and departed the bank with cash.

The jury also found that less than a month later, on April 29, 2008, Hutcherson robbed the Happy State Bank at 34th and Bell in Amarillo. On that day, shortly after noon, Hutcherson pointed what was later determined to be a bb pistol at a bank teller. He again demanded all of the money at the teller station and left the bank with cash, including 32 two-dollar bills.

A television broadcast of bank security images resulted in a tip that led to Hutcherson’s arrest. Among other things, authorities discovered a significant amount of cash in his home, including 30 two-dollar bills.

The case was investigated by the FBI, the Plainview Police Department, the Texas Rangers and the Amarillo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Gulde, Vicki Lamberson and Christy Drake prosecuted the case.