New Orleans Man Sentenced to Over 14 Years in Federal Prison on Attempted Bank Robbery and Gun Charges
| U.S. Attorney’s Office December 17, 2009 |
NEW ORLEANS, LA—ANOTCHE WIX, age 28, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced yesterday in federal court by U.S. District Ivan L.R. Lemelle to over 14 years (179 months) in prison for attempted armed bank robbery, using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to an attempted bank robbery, and conspiracy to use and carry a firearm during and in relation to an attempted bank robbery, announced U.S. Attorney Jim Letten. Additionally, Judge Lemelle ordered that WIX be placed on five (5) years' supervised release as to Count 1, and three (3) years of supervised release as to Count 3, following the term of imprisonment.
According to court documents on September 22, 2009, after a two-day trial, a federal trial jury found WIX guilty on as charged. The government produced evidence at trial which proved that on Thursday, February 14, 2008, ANOTCHE WIX, along with his co-defendant Mark Johnson, attempted to rob the First Bank and Trust located in the 4500 block of General DeGaulle Drive in New Orleans, Louisiana. According to the evidence, WIX entered the bank carrying a bag, pulled a ski mask down over his face and announced, "This is a robbery.Everybody get down." Johnson entered the bank closely behind WIX carrying an assault rifle. WIX and Johnson encountered an off-duty uniformed New Orleans Police Officer working a security detail, who immediately drew his service weapon firing several rounds at the robbers. WIX and Johnson ran out of the bank and Johnson dropped the rifle outside near the bank. Because WIX was grazed by one of the bullets, there were numerous blood and tissue samples recovered from the scene. The rifle was recovered and was loaded with one round inside the chamber.
Johnson was later located and arrested in a nearby neighborhood and WIX later turned himself in.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Duane A. Evans and Liz Privitera.