AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC at 410-209-4885

MAY 4, 2006

Baltimore Man Sentenced to Nine Years In Prison for Five Bank Robberies

BALTIMORE, Maryland - Dennis James Miller, age 20, of Baltimore, Maryland was sentenced to 9 years in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release for bank robbery, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. U.S. District Judge William M. Nickerson also ordered that Miller pay restitution of $8,621.

According to the statement of facts presented at his guilty plea on January 24, 2006, Miller and co-defendant Warren William Gibson, age 20, of Baltimore traveled to the Harford Bank located at 8 West Bel Air Avenue, Aberdeen, Maryland on September 14, 2005. Miller waited outside. Gibson entered the bank and gave the teller a demand note prepared by Miller. At the bottom of the demand note was a stick figure drawing in which one stick figure appears to shoot another stick figure with a gun. Next to the drawing is a notation which reads “DON’T MAKE ME HURT ANYONE.”The teller handed Gibson $2090. Gibson left the bank with Miller.

Using similar notes, on September 19, 22, and 26, 2005, Miller and Gibson robbed BB&T Bank located at 380 Main Street, Laurel, Maryland of $3620; Provident Bank located at 11351 York Road, Hunt Valley, Maryland of $1400; and the M&T Bank located at 10431 York Road, Cockeysville, Maryland of $1511, respectively.

On September 28, 2005, Gibson was arrested for the Harford and Provident bank robberies.

On September 29, 2005, Miller entered the Wachovia Bank located at 1442 Martin Boulevard, Baltimore. Using a similar note as in the previous robberies, Miller stole $3830. Outside the bank, he was confronted by a Baltimore County police officer who had been conducting a routine bank patrol. Miller attempted to flee, throwing some objects to the street. He eventually stopped on command from the officer and was arrested. Officers recovered the objects that Miller had thrown away, including a “Sharpie” marker and a day planner. The pages of the day planner were the type of paper used to prepare the demand note. Additionally, a total of $3830, including two $50 bait bills from Wachovia were found inside a pocket in the day planner.

Gibson has been in federal custody since his arrest. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Baltimore County Police Department for their investigative work in this case. Mr. Rosenstein also praised Assistant United States Attorney Michael C. Hanlon, who is prosecuting the case.