Houston Man Ordered to Prison for Wells Fargo Robbery

HOUSTON—Willie Wright, III, 32, of Houston, has been sentenced for his role in the robbery of the Wells Fargo Bank on Kirby Drive in Houston in December 2012, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson.

Today, U.S. District Judge Nancy Atlas sentenced Wright to 46 months for aggravated bank robbery, as well as a consecutive seven years for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, for a total of 130 months in federal prison.

On Friday December 28, 2012, Wright, along with Aaron Derrow, 43, Terrance Jackson, 35, and Justin Levar Taylor, 33, all of Houston, robbed the Wells Fargo Bank at 5202 Kirby Drive in Houston. All the men were wearing various disguises, and Wright, Derrow, and Taylor were armed with pistols. Jackson and Derrow jumped over the teller counter while Wright and Taylor controlled the lobby. Derrow threatened a male teller with his gun while filling a bag with money. After getting the money, the two jumped back over the teller counter and all four ran out of the bank to their getaway vehicle, a stolen white Toyota pickup truck. All were apprehended a short time later at a residence several miles away.

Derrow and Jackson both also pleaded guilty to aggravated bank robbery and will be sentenced later this month. Derrow also entered a plea of guilty to brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Taylor will be sentenced in January 2014 and was convicted of aggravated bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

The case was investigated by the FBI’s Bank Robbery Task Force and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennie Basile.