March 20, 2015

Serial Bank Robber Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison

Former Broward County resident sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment for robbing five banks located in Broward County, and his attempted robbery of a bank located in Tamarac.

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Miami Field Office, and Scott Israel, Sheriff, Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO), made the announcement.

United States Judge James I. Cohn sentenced Jeffrey Ross, 28, to 199 months’ imprisonment, consecutive to a 101 month sentence Ross is currently serving out of the Eastern District of Michigan. The evidence established that in September 2012, Ross attempted to rob a bank in Tamarac. During the robbery, he displayed a firearm that was concealed in his waistband and demanded that the bank teller give him money. When the teller was slow to respond, Ross fled the bank to avoid apprehension. From October 19, 2012 through February 28, 2013, Ross robbed five banks in Broward County. During each of the robberies, Ross displayed a firearm that was concealed in his waistband. In total, Ross stole $9,646.

After the last robbery, Ross fled to Michigan where he committed another bank robbery in July 2013. During that robbery, Ross pointed a firearm at bank employees and stole $4,350. Ross then ordered all the employees into the bank vault before he fled the scene. After a foot pursuit and area canvas by the police, law enforcement apprehended Ross in the bushes next to a building located near the bank. After pleading guilty in Michigan and being sentenced to 101 month, Ross was extradited to South Florida to face charges.

U.S. Attorney Wifredo Ferrer commended the FBI’s Violent Crime Task Force, BSO, and the Ft. Lauderdale Police Departments for their investigative efforts on this matter. The FBI’s Violent Crime Task Force includes members from the FBI, BSO, and other local police departments. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Dispoto.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.