September 9, 2014

Armed Bank Robbery of Kalamazoo Credit Union Nets Nearly a Decade in Prison for South Bend, Indiana Man

GRAND RAPIDS, MI—U.S. Chief District Judge Paul L. Maloney sentenced Dennis Love, 60, of South Bend, Indiana to 9 ½ years’ (114 months) confinement—30 months’ confinement for the April 26, 2013 armed credit union robbery of Consumers Credit Union in Kalamazoo, to be served consecutively to 84 months’ confinement for brandishing a firearm during that same robbery, U.S. Attorney Patrick Miles, Jr. announced today. The convictions arise from an Indictment that charged four robberies that occurred in 2013: the Consumers Credit Union in Kalamazoo, the Southern Michigan Bank and Trust in Tekonsha, the Honor Credit Union in Berrien Springs, and the PNC Bank in Martin, Michigan.

Chief Judge Maloney also ordered Love to pay a total of $18,605 in restitution to the four banks involved, broken down by the loss amount from the robbery at each institution. Additionally, Love was sentenced to serve four years of supervised release on each of Counts One and Two of the indictment, to be served concurrently.

U.S. Attorney Miles praised the cooperation between federal, state, and local investigators in locating and prosecuting this serial bank robber. “Armed bank robbery while brandishing a firearm places bank employees in understandable fear for their lives. We will not tolerate this sort of offense in Western Michigan. The judgment handed down by Chief Judge Maloney appropriately recognizes the serious impact of armed bank robbery and brandishing on bank employees, customers, area financial institutions, and the community.”

“The investigation, arrest, and sentencing of Mr. Love for his acts of violence is the result of a coordinated effort between local, state, and federal law enforcement authorities,” stated Paul Abbate, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “The message here is clear—those who commit these acts of violence will be relentlessly pursued at every level, and ultimately held accountable for their actions.”

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Clay M. West and jointly investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Berrien Springs-Oronoko Township Police, Berrien County Sheriff’s Office, Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office, Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, Allegan County Sheriff’s Office, and Michigan State Police.