Jury Finds Three Fort Myers-Area Men Guilty on Federal Bank Robbery Charges

FORT MYERS, FL—On Friday, February 1, 2013, a federal jury found Michael James Harrell (33, Fort Myers), Matthew Rollins (27, Fort Myers), and Maurice Andre Colbert (28, Fort Myers) guilty of armed bank robbery, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, attempted bank robbery, conspiracy to commit armed bank robbery, and conspiracy to use firearms during a crime of violence in relation to a series of bank robberies, in Lee County, during the summer and fall of 2011. Harrell faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 57 years, up to life in federal prison. Both Rollins and Colbert face a mandatory minimum term of 32 years’ imprisonment, up to life and seven years’ imprisonment, up to life, respectively. Sentencing hearings for all three individuals are scheduled for May 2013.

According to the evidence presented at trial, the three men and another co-conspirator conspired to rob area banks with firearms from June 6, 2011 to October 8, 2011. In addition to the conspiracy charges, the jury found Harrell and Rollins guilty of armed robbery and related weapons charges for Wells Fargo Bank and Preferred Community Bank in Lehigh Acres in August 2011. Harrell and Colbert were also found guilty of the same offenses against Lee County Postal Employees Credit Union in June 2011. All three men were convicted of the attempted robbery of the Wells Fargo Bank in Bonita Springs on September 14, 2011, and Capital Bank, in Fort Myers, on October 4, 2011. Harrell and Colbert were also convicted for the attempted robbery of Fifth Third Bank in Fort Myers, on October 7, 2011.

This case was the result of a cooperative investigative effort among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Myers Police Department, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, Collier County Sheriff’s Office, Cape Coral Police Department, Punta Gorda Police Department, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey F. Michelland.