Press Releases
FEDERAL GRAND JURY RETURNS BANK ROBBERY INDICTMENT
August 9, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GEORGE STEPHEN CUTHBERTSON, age 53, formerly a resident of Brinkley, Arkansas, was charged in a one-count indictment by a Federal Grand Jury for bank robbery, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.
According to court documents, on June 25, 2007, CUTHBERTSON entered the Omni Bank located on Veterans Boulevard in Metairie, Louisiana, and handed the teller a demand note with words to the effect of, “Please cooperate. I am armed with a pistol and I have my cell phone on. Give me all your 100’s and 50’s. No dye pack and don’t touch alarm.” The teller provided bank funds to the CUTHBERTSON who then turned and exited the bank with the demand note and approximately $2,680 of the bank’s funds.
Further according to court documents, the next day, Tuesday, June 26, 2007, the Alabama Credit Union, located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, also was robbed by a man matching the description of the Omni Bank robber. The robber approached the teller and displayed a demand that read words to the effect of, “I have a pistol in my pocket. Put all the money in the bag. I have a partner in the car.” The teller provided bank funds to the robber who then turned and exited the bank with the bank funds and the demand note. A witness who observed the robber enter a white Dodge van with an Arkansas license plate, provided the information to responding police officers. Further investigation determined the van was registered to CUTHBERTSON. Subsequently, both victim tellers positively identified CUTHBERTSON as the robber.
If convicted, CUTHBERTSON faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty (20) years, a maximum fine of the greater of $250,000 or twice the gross loss to any victim or twice the gross gain to the defendant, and up to three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
U. S. Attorney Letten reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by both the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Christopher Cox of the Violent Crime Unit.
