FOUR PEOPLE FROM NEW JERSEY CHARGED WITH ALLEGEDLY ROBBING LEBANON COUNTY BANK

Martin C. Carlson, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, announced today that a Federal Grand Jury in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, has returned an indictment against Ronald Samuels, age 33; David Dupree, age 31; Latricia Samuels, age unknown; all of Camden, New Jersey and Myra Rodriguez, age 34; of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The indictment alleges that on April 15, 2004, Ronald Samuels and David Dupree, with the assistance of Latricia Samuels and Myra Rodriguez, robbed the M&T Bank in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, during which they obtained over $10,000.

According to Acting U.S. Attorney Carlson, investigators used DNA to link Ronald Samuels to the robbery after he dropped behind the bank counter a pair of sunglasses he was wearing to conceal his identity.

All four individuals are charged with armed bank robbery and conspiracy to commit armed bank robbery. Ronald Samuels and David Dupree were also charged with use of a firearm during a crime of violence.

If convicted, they each face up to 25 years’ imprisonment for armed bank robbery and up to five years for conspiracy. Ronald Samuels and David Dupree also face up to life imprisonment for the use of a firearm during a crime of violence.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Pennsylvania State Police and the Lebanon City Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Daryl F. Bloom is prosecuting the case.

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An Indictment or Information is not evidence of guilt but simply a description of the charge made by the Grand Jury and/or United States Attorney against a defendant. A charged Defendant is presumed innocent until a jury returns a unanimous finding that the United States has proven the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt or until the defendant has pled guilty to the charges.