FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACTAUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885 JUNE 12, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ARMED BANK ROBBER SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON

Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz sentenced Brian Alan Kline, age 40, of Joppatowne, Maryland today to 10 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for armed bank robbery, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. Judge Motz also ordered Kline to pay restitution of $61,819.

According to his guilty plea, On September 8, 2006, Kline entered the Mercantile Bank, 12037 Belair Road in Kingsville, approached the teller demanding money and producing a BB gun that closely resembled a black and silver semi-automatic handgun. Kline stole $7,209. Kline then walked to the manager’s office and pointed the weapon at the manager demanding that the manager come with him and threatening to shoot the manager. The manager went with Kline to the front door but was able to escape to a nearby convenience store.

On September 14, 2006, Kline entered the bank manager’s office at Harford Bank, 501 Riviera Drive in Joppatowne. Kline brandished a BB gun that closely resembled a black semi-automatic handgun and forced the manager to the teller area where Kline demanded currency from the cash drawers. Kline then demanded money from the vault, threatening the teller that if she didn’t comply he would shoot the manager. Kline stole $54,610. United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation Maryland Bank Robbery Task Force for their investigative work, and commended Assistant United States Attorney Debra Dwyer, who prosecuted the case