Man Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Robbing Gilbert Bank with Hoax Bomb

PHOENIX—Donald Ray Ludington, 49, of Gilbert, Ariz., was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell to 48 months in federal prison for committing a bank robbery threatening use of a hoax bomb. He was also ordered to pay $5,602 in restitution.

Ludington pleaded guilty to one count of Armed Bank Robbery for robbing a bank in Gilbert in October 2009. Ludington walked into a bank with a backpack, set it down at his feet, and presented the victim teller with a lengthy note that read “I have a bomb at my feet” demanding “20’s, 50’s, and 100’s.” The teller was very fearful, gave him money, and the defendant ran away.

Police received an anonymous tip naming Ludington as the bank robber. Police then conducted surveillance on Ludington, who was found casing a bank in the East Valley. Agents and officers took a photograph of Ludington, whom bank employees identified as the person who robbed the bank back in October. Ludington was arrested and interviewed, and in the interview admitted using a hoax bomb to rob the bank in Gilbert.

This investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Violent Crime/Bank Robbery Task Force and the Gilbert Police Department. 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: 09-01399-PHX-DGC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2010-106(Ludington)