FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
APRIL 25, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ARMED BANK ROBBERS INDICTED
Allegedly Stole Over $80,000 in a Violent Montgomery County Bank Robbery
Greenbelt, Maryland - A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment today adding Richol Griner, age 30, and Timothy Slobig, age 28, as defendants charged with conspiracy to commit bank robbery and using a firearm during a crime of violence, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. Giovanni Bell, age 44, of Silver Spring, and Jude Eligwe, age 21, of Lanham, were previously charged with those crimes in an indictment returned on April 4, 2007.
According to the superseding indictment and criminal complaint, the defendants conspired to rob the Commerce Bank at 350 E. Gude Drive in Rockville where Eligwe was employed. The indictment alleges that on February 17 and 18, 2007, Eligwe informed his co-conspirators about Commerce Bank’s vault mechanisms. On February 19, Bell, Griner and Slobig drove to Commerce Bank where Eligwe unlocked the front door of the bank so the robbers could enter. Bell, Griner and Slobig held the bank employees hostage while they waited for the vault to open. They brandished their weapons and repeatedly pistol whipped a bank employee. The robbers stole more than $80,000 from the bank.
Each of the defendants faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison for the conspiracy; 25 years in prison for bank robbery; and seven years in prison for using a firearm during a crime of violence. No court appearances have been scheduled and the defendants remain detained.
An indictment and criminal complaint are not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment or criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the investigative work performed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Mongtomery County Police Department. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Deborah Johnston and Emily Glatfelter, who are prosecuting the case.