Montgomery Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Robbery
| U.S. Attorney’s Office January 04, 2013 |
MONTGOMERY, AL—Darrin J. Bell, 32 years old, of Montgomery, Alabama, pled guilty today to one count of bank robbery and one count of using a firearm during a violent crime, announced George L. Beck, Jr., United States Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama.
On October 5, 2011, Bell walked into the Community Bank and Trust located at 9190 East Chase Parkway in Montgomery. He pulled a gun from his duffle bag and demanded money from the teller. The teller complied and gave him approximately $1,500. Bell then left the bank area on his motorcycle. Bell was indicted and pled guilty to bank robbery. Because Bell used a firearm during the bank robbery, he was also charged and pled guilty to using a firearm during a violent crime.
“Most everyone uses banks and most everyone has to visit their bank from time to time,” said U.S. Attorney Beck. “When a criminal uses a gun and endangers the innocent patrons and tellers at that bank, we will prosecute. This is a serious crime, which requires serious punishment. My office is unrelenting, and we will not let up on these criminals; we will continue to utilize all the resources possible to prosecute and bring these criminals to justice.”
“The collaboration between federal and municipal law enforcement agencies paved the way for the successes of this investigation,” stated Stephen E. Richardson, FBI Special Agent in Charge, Mobile Division.
The maximum punishment for bank robbery is 20 years in prison, a fine of no more than $250,000, and a period of supervised release not to exceed three years. The maximum punishment for using a firearm in a violent crime is a term of imprisonment of at least seven years, a fine not to exceed $250,000, and a period of supervised release of not more than three years.
The United States Attorney thanks the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Montgomery Police Department, and the Opelika Police Department for their hard work and dedication on this case. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Susan R. Redmond.