AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC at 410-209-4885

October 18, 2006

FORESTVILLE MAN SENTENCED TO OVER 14 YEARS IN PRISON FOR BANK ROBBERY

Robbed 14 Banks in Four Months

GREENBELT, Maryland - Donnell Duane Berry, age 30 of Forestville, Maryland was sentenced today to 170 months 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 Alexander Williams, Jr. enhanced Berry’s sentence upon finding that he was a career offender, based on his numerous previous convictions for robbery with a dangerous weapon, robbery, and bank robbery. Judge Williams also ordered Berry to pay restitution of $47,729.

According to the statement of facts submitted to the court on August 3, 2006, as part of his plea agreement, from July 29, 2005 through October 25, 2005 Berry robbed 14 banks in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties of a total of $47,729. In each robbery Berry gave the teller a note demanding money.

Specifically, Berry admitted robbing: the Bank of America, at 7520 Marlboro Pike, District Heights, Maryland of $1,150 on July 29, 2005; the M&T Bank at 3700 Donnell Drive, Forestville, Maryland of $3,445 on August 5, 2005; the Bank of America at 7810 Old Branch Avenue, Clinton, Maryland of $5,620 on August 11, 2005; the SunTrust Bank at 9411 Annapolis Road, Lanham, Maryland of $3,575 on August 15, 2005; the M&T Bank at 11807 Livingston Road, Fort Washington, Maryland of $1,554 on August 17, 2005; the Sun Trust Bank at 10801 Indian Head Highway, Fort Washington, Maryland of $891 on August 17, 2005; the Chevy Chase Bank at 15460 Annapolis Road, Bowie, Maryland of $720 on August 19, 2005; the Chevy Chase Bank at 1130 Smallwood Drive West, Waldorf, Maryland of $8,194 on August 23, 2005; the Bank of America at 7515 Annapolis Road, Hyattsville, Maryland of $5,900 on September 12, 2005; the Chevy Chase Bank at 6200 Annapolis Road, Landover Hills, Maryland of $440 on September 23, 2005; the Chevy Chase Bank at 980 E. Swan Creek Road, Fort Washington, Maryland of $5,500 on October 3, 2005; the SunTrust Bank branch located at 9411 Annapolis Road, Lanham, Maryland for the second time, of $1,100 on October 11, 2005; and the Chevy Chase Bank branch located at 3355 Corridor Marketplace, Laurel, Maryland of $8,750 on October 17, 2005. Finally, on October 24, 2005 Berry again robbed the Bank of America at 7515 Annapolis Road, Hyattsville, Maryland of $890.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Prince George’s County Police Department for their investigative work performed in this case. Mr. Rosenstein also praised Assistant United States Attorney Barbara S. Skalla, who prosecuted the case.