Armed Bank Robber Exiled to over 10 Years in Prison

Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge William M. Nickerson sentenced Paul Emerson Frazier, age 29, of Washington, D.C., today to 124 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for bank robbery and using a gun during the bank robbery.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Chief William J. McMahon of the Howard County Police Department.

According to Frazier’s plea agreement, on December 9, 2009, Frazier entered the Bank of America at 7399 Assateague Drive in Jessup, Maryland, pointed a semi-automatic, loaded handgun at employees and customers, and demanded that everyone get on the floor. Frazier walked behind the teller counter and took money from the teller drawers. Frazier then pointed the gun at the tellers and ordered them to unlock the locked teller drawers. When some of the tellers were unsuccessful, he pointed the gun at them again and kept repeating his demand. Frazier also pointed the gun at the manager and at a customer.

Frazier took $42,124.33 from the bank and fled in a Range Rover. A patrol officer attempted to stop his vehicle, with no success. Frazier left the vehicle and ran into a wooded area. While searching for Frazier, law enforcement officers located some of the clothing Frazier wore during the robbery and the gun he used. A citizen who lived in the area called police about an attempted break-in at his house. Frazier was arrested shortly thereafter.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI and the Howard County Police Department for their work in this investigation and thanked Assistant United States Attorney Bonnie S. Greenberg and Special Assistant United States Attorney John S. Linehan, who prosecuted the case.