District Man Sentenced to 42 Months in Prison For Robbing Bank in Southeast Washington

            WASHINGTON – Francis Davis, 69, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 42 months in prison for robbing a bank last year in Southeast Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips, Paul M. Abbate, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            Davis pled guilty in February 2016 to a charge of bank robbery. He was sentenced by the Honorable Christopher R. Cooper of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Upon completion of his prison term, Davis will be placed on three years of supervised release.

            According to the government’s evidence, on Monday, Nov. 9, 2015, at approximately 9:15 a.m., Davis entered the rear door of the SunTrust Bank in the 300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue SE. Once inside, he walked to a teller station. Davis then passed the bank teller a note which demanded money.  The teller read the note and paused in disbelief. At that time, Davis stated, “Quit stalling … Somebody is gonna’ get hurt.”

            The teller opened the cash drawer and passed $1,589 to the defendant. Davis stated, “That’s good,” and then walked swiftly out the door. Law enforcement officers submitted images taken from the bank’s surveillance video to the law enforcement community.  The defendant was subsequently identified from several surveillance video photos from the robbery. He was arrested on Dec. 11, 2015 and has been in custody ever since.

            In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Phillips, Assistant Director in Charge Abbate, and Chief Lanier commended the actions of the FBI and Metropolitan Police Department officers who worked to solve this case.  They also expressed appreciation for the work of Paralegal Specialists Jeannette Litz and Teesha Tobias of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Finally, they commended efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole, who investigated and prosecuted the case.