Serial “Professional” Bank Robber Sentenced to 10 Years

PHOENIX—Ashley Townsend, 54, of Phoenix, Ariz., was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Frederick J. Martone to 10 years in federal prison for committing three bank robberies in 2009. Townsend had a prior felony conviction for bank robbery in 1996.

Townsend pleaded guilty to committing three bank robberies from March through May 2009, and was caught after a bank customer saw a robbery in progress, followed Townsend to his apartment, and called 911.

Bank employees from all three banks positively identified Townsend as the robber. He approached bank tellers with a smiling face and a handwritten note demanding money, bragging “I am a professional” in each note. He was caught after the final bank robbery when a customer inside the grocery store saw him rob the bank and flee on foot. The customer got into his car and followed defendant, and called 911. The customer followed Townsend to his apartment, where agents ultimately found him and the money he just stole from the bank.

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Violent Crime/Bank Robbery Task Force. The FBI has partnered with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, the Mesa Police Department, the Phoenix Police Department, the Scottsdale Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office to form the Violent Crime/Bank Robbery Task Force in order to investigate, arrest and seek prosecution of those responsible for robbing banks in the Valley. The prosecution was handled by Jennifer E. Green, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER: CR-09-675-PHX-FJM

RELEASE NUMBER: 2010-027(Townsend)