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

FEBRUARY 1, 2007

TWO BALTIMORE MEN PLEAD GUILTY TO ARMED BANK ROBBERY

Robbed Nine Banks of Over $85,000 In Four Month Spree

BALTIMORE, Maryland - James Abu Bangura and Dartanion Antwon Wallace, both age 25 and of Baltimore, pleaded guilty today to armed bank robbery, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.

According to the plea agreements presented to the court, Bangura admitted that he robbed the following nine banks of a total of $85,345, in each case threatening that he had a bomb: BB&T Bank at 200 East Pratt Street in Baltimore of $2,100 on May 23, 2006; Bank of America at 8788 Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring of $3,800 on May 24, 2006; Sun Trust Bank at 120 East Baltimore Street in Baltimore of $2,264 on June 7, 2006; Wachovia Bank at 7901 Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda of $2,795 on June 9, 2006; M&T Bank at 25 South Charles Street in Baltimore of $5,346 on June 20, 2006; M&T Bank at 5100 Campbell Boulevard in White Marsh of $19,189 on June 28, 2006; Wachovia Bank at 8807 Pulaski Highway in Baltimore of $2,301 on August 4, 2006; M&T Bank at 1409 Pulaski Highway in Baltimore of $22,620 on August 24, 2006; and Peoples Bank at 975 East Pulaski Highway in Elkton of $24,930 on August 28, 2006. Wallace admitted that he participated in the August 4 and August 28, 2006 robberies with Bangura.

The defendants face a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Chief U.S. District Judge Benson E. Legg has scheduled the sentencing for Wallace on May 11, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. and for Bangura on May 24, 2007 at 10:00 a.m.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the investigative work performed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Baltimore City Police Department and the Elkton Police Department. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Levin, who is prosecuting the case.