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August 22, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/md                                       

SERIAL BANK ROBBER PLEADS GUILTY

Admits to Stealing Over $65,000 in Nine Bank Robberies

BALTIMORE, Maryland - Gerald Alex Bigsby, age 55, pleaded guilty today to armed bank robbery announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.

According to the statement of facts presented to the court as part of his guilty plea, Bigsby committed seven bank robberies between July 21, 2005 and June 28, 2006. Bigsby used a large knife to rob the Bank of America at 8788 Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring, Maryland of $10,730 on July 21, 2005. On May 23, 2006 Bigsby robbed the BB&T Bank at 200 East Pratt Street in Baltimore of $2,100; on May 24, 2006, he again robbed the Bank of America on Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring of $3,800; on June 7, 2006 he robbed the Sun Trust Bank at 120 East Baltimore Street in Baltimore of $2,264; on June 9, 2006 he robbed the Wachovia Bank at 7901 Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda of $2,795; on June 20, 2006 Bigsby robbed the M&T Bank at 25 South Charles Street in Baltimore of $5,346; and on June 28, 2006 he robbed the M&T Bank at 5100 Campbell Boulevard in White Marsh of $19,189. In each of the 2006 robberies, Bigsby threatened bank personnel with a fake bomb.

Bigsby also admitted to robbing two Washington, D.C. Bank of America branches in July 2005 and July 2006, netting approximately $10,000 and $9,500 respectively. In each of those robberies Bigsby admitted that he threatened bank personnel with a fake bomb.

Bigsby was arrested on July 5, 2006, on a warrant issued in relation to a violation of supervised release for a previous bank robbery conviction.

Bigsby faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count of armed bank robbery. U.S. District Judge Andre M. Davis scheduled sentencing for September 8, 2006 at 11:00 a.m.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the investigative work performed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore City Police Department, Baltimore County Police Department and the Montgomery County Police Department. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Levin, who is prosecuting the case.

This page last modified—August 22, 2006