March 24, 2008

SERIAL ARMED BANK ROBBER GETS 16 YEAR JAIL TERM

SACRAMENTO--United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today that United States District Judge Garland E. Burrell, Jr. sentenced today ROBERT BRIAN WINSTON, 23, of Fairfield, to 192 months in federal custody for serial armed bank robbery, armed carjacking, and use of a firearm during commission of a violent crime. WINSTON will be subject to five years supervision on release from prison. The court also ordered WINSTON to pay $35,772.00 in restitution to his victims.

The case was investigated by the Sacramento Violent Crimes Task Force, which includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department, with assistance from law enforcement personnel in San Lorenzo, California.

According to Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Rodriguez, who prosecuted the case, WINSTON and his accomplice entered a Wells Fargo Bank located at 2261 Del Paso Road, Sacramento, California, on September 26, 2005. Having ridden to the bank on a single motorcycle, WINSTON and his accomplice were still wearing helmets, dark clothing, and gloves when they entered the bank, brandishing weapons. WINSTON took control of the lobby, while his accomplice jumped the teller counter and took $22,994.00. On fleeing, the robbers discovered that a concerned citizen intentionally had knocked over their motorcycle. WINSTON and his accomplice then carjacked a silver Honda Civic carrying a family with two young children. WINSTON was later identified based on DNA analysis of materials located in the vehicle.

WINSTON also was convicted of two earlier armed bank robberies: (1) an August 26, 2005 robbery of a Bank of America located at 2861 Del Paso Blvd., Sacramento, California, stealing $23,709.00; and (2) a September 7, 2005 robbery of a Citibank located at 429 Paseo Grande, San Lorenzo, California, stealing $12,071.50.

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For more information on federal criminal defense law, contact the Law Offices of Joseph Shemaria of Los Angeles, California.