District Man Found Guilty Of Federal Charges In Pair Of Bank Robberies In Downtown Washington-Defendant Held Up Two Banks On The Same Day-

     WASHINGTON – Clyde Lacy Rattler, 56, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty by a jury today of two counts of bank robbery stemming from a pair of hold-ups committed in downtown Washington on the same day, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr., Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

     The verdict followed a trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Rattler will be sentenced by the Honorable Ketanji Brown Jackson, on April 8, 2014.  He faces up to 20 years in prison. The Court ordered that he be held without bond pending his sentencing.  In 2005, Rattler was convicted of three bank robberies and one attempted bank robbery.

     According to the government's evidence, on Friday, Aug. 2, 2013, at about 10 a.m., Rattler approached the teller station at United Bank, in the 1600 block of K Street NW, and told the teller that he had a gun and wanted money in large denominations. The teller gave Rattler multiple clips of $100 and $50 bills, and he exited the bank.  The loss to the bank was later determined to be $1,650.

     Later the same day, at about 5 p.m., Rattler approached the teller station at the TD Bank, in the 1000 block of 15th Street NW. He told the teller he had a gun and a bomb, and he wanted money in large denominations.  The teller gave him money, and he exited the bank. The loss to the bank was later determined to be $1,141.

     A news report describing the robberies aired on a local television station, including bank surveillance footage.  After seeing a news report, several persons, including two law enforcement officers, called the FBI, and Rattler was identified as the perpetrator of the robberies. 

     In announcing the guilty verdicts, U.S. Attorney Machen, Assistant Director in Charge Parlave, and Chief Lanier commended the actions of those who investigated the robberies for the FBI and MPD. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Candace Battle and Legal Assistant Tammy Scott.  Finally, they expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole, who investigated and prosecuted the case.