Criminal Complaint Filed Today Charging Odessa Man with Bank Robbery

United States Attorney John E. Murphy announced that a federal criminal complaint was filed today charging 26-year-old Jerry Dewitt Smith, Jr., of Odessa, Texas, for the November 6, 2009, armed bank robbery of Security Bank in Odessa.

According to the complaint, a man robbed the East 42nd St. branch of the bank at about 9:40 a.m. while brandishing a firearm and made off with an undisclosed amount of money. Clothing consistent with that worn by the gunman was recovered in a dumpster near the Golden Crest apartment complex on Tanglewood Drive in Odessa on the day of the robbery.

Smith, who the complaint indicates lives at the Golden Crest apartment complex, was arrested by federal authorities on Saturday after being positively identified by an eyewitness, according to the complaint. Smith made an initial appearance in Midland this morning before United States Magistrate David Counts, and has been detained pending a bond hearing scheduled for November 24, 2009.

Smith faces up to 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted of the offense.

The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Texas Rangers and the Odessa Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Austin Berry is prosecuting the matter for the Government.

A criminal complaint is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt.
The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.