Bank Robbery | Bank Robbery Attorney

Federal bank robbery is a serious crime that carries significant sentencing exposure. If you or someone you know is charged with robbing a bank, you need an experienced bank robbery attorney on your side. Your attorney can discuss possible bank robbery defenses and defend you in court.

Contact the Zoukis Consulting Group today if you are under indictment for bank robbery. Our team of experienced consultants can connect you with dedicated bank robbery lawyers to aid in your defense. Book a one-hour initial consultation today!

Bank Robbery | Robbery Charges

Bank Robbery | Bank Robbery Attorney

Federal bank robbery in the United States is a serious offense. It carries a long prison sentence if found guilty.

As it sounds, bank robbery constitutes any act in which someone enters a bank, credit union, or savings and loan association to steal. Remember that using force is not necessary. Many robbery charges are based on simple “note jobs” that demand money.

This offense can be prosecuted as both a state and federal crime. The type depends on what conditions are present and which law enforcement agency pursues prosecution.

Our federal bank robbery attorney partners are skilled criminal defense lawyers who will defend you in federal court. A skilled defense attorney knows how to present evidence and negotiate with prosecutors for a reduced sentence.

Call us today if you are charged with bank robbery and need a robust legal defense. The Zoukis Consulting Group also specializes in prison preparation and resolution of in-prison matters. As such, our consultants can advise and prepare you for life in federal prison. Contact us today to let us start working for you.

Is Bank Robbery a Federal Crime?

Let’s separate federal bank robbery from state robbery before we get into specifics of what exactly constitutes this federal offense.

Since 1934, it has been a federal crime to rob a national bank or any state bank that is a member of the Federal Reserve System. State banks join the system if their managers feel that its robust oversight would ultimately benefit them and their members.

The U.S. Code (18 U.S.C. 2113) defines a “federal” bank as any banking institution operating under U.S. laws. This includes branches of foreign banks and institutions where the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation federally insures deposits. Robbing these federal institutions constitutes a federal crime.

Regarding credit unions, the types referred to in the U.S. Code include federal credit unions and state credit unions whose funds are insured by the National Credit Union Administration Board.

In any event, this background clears up the question of which bank robberies are federal crimes. At the Zoukis Consulting Group, our bank robbery attorney partners defend those charged with federal counts of bank robbery and associated violent crimes.

What Is Federal Bank Robbery?

The U.S. Code defines bank robbery as the act of using force or violence to take or attempt to take any money or other valuable property from any bank, credit union, or savings and loan association. While robbers can be arrested on the spot, they can also be arrested following the filing of a criminal complaint.

It also counts as federal bank robbery to enter any location used as a bank, credit union, or savings and loan association to commit or attempt to commit larceny, theft, or any felony. This could consist of either property or money. Felonies are defined as serious crimes that carry over one year in prison. They also tend to involve violence.

Bank Robbery Attorney | Bank Robbery Defense

What Are the Punishments for Federal Bank Robbery?

The punishments for robbing a federal bank or other monetary institution depend on the person’s actions in the bank. Likewise, activities performed afterward concerning the original robbery may also alter sentencing liability. We’ll explain each of these.

Those found guilty of robbing or attempting to rob a federal bank or other federal financial institution can be fined and imprisoned for up to 20 years.

Meanwhile, individuals found guilty of taking away, with the intent to steal, any federal bank money or property worth more than $1,000 can be fined and imprisoned for up to 10 years. If the amount is less than $1,000, the person can be imprisoned for up to one year.

These monetary values and prison sentences also apply to anyone who knowingly sells, receives, possesses, stores, or disposes of property stolen from banks or other institutions. For instance, someone who accepts and hides stolen bank property worth more than $1,000 can be sentenced to up to 10 years in federal prison.

The U.S. Code covers other crimes associated with bank robbery, as well. For instance, the next subsection of the code discusses anyone who assaults someone or endangers lives with deadly weapons during a robbery. They can be fined and imprisoned for up to 25 years for armed robbery.

In addition to the typical robbery charges, anyone who commits an assault, flees, or forces others to participate risks imprisonment for up to 10 years. If the person robbing the bank kills someone during the crime, they can receive up to life in prison. Likewise, they are also potentially eligible for the death penalty.

A Robbery Attorney Will Defend You in Court

As the U.S. Code stipulates, those found guilty of committing federal bank robbery face serious time in prison. Their sentence liability increases with potential aggravating factors based on the forms of the robbery.

However, the exact sentence you receive will likely depend on the skills and experience of your defense attorney and their law firm.

If you’re facing serious charges for robbing a bank and need an expert to defend you, call the Zoukis Consulting Group. We have expert knowledge of the U.S. Code and know how to apply the law to every detail of your situation.

Our team also includes prison consultants who can review with you all the ins and outs of making it through a federal prison sentence. We understand going to prison can be a shock to anyone, and we are here to help.

In the end, a sharp federal bank robbery attorney can be the difference between a defendant getting a maximum or more lenient sentence. Call us today to let us start working on your case.