Bowie Car Shop Owner Sentenced in Scheme to Steal ATMs
$381,281 in Losses Resulted from the Theft of ATMs
Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced David Brandford, age 45, of Bowie, Maryland, today to 70 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit bank larceny and aiding and abetting bank larceny by stealing Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) from banks and convenience stores, cutting them open and stealing the money inside, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. Judge Blake enhanced Brandford’s sentence for committing perjury during his trial in falsely testifying that he had no knowledge or involvement in the conspiracy.
According to trial testimony, from February 2003 to June 2006, Brandford conspired with others to steal ATM machines and bring them back to Brandford’s automobile garage shop in Bowie where they would cut the machines open using tools Brandford kept for work on vehicles. Branford’s conspirators used stolen construction equipment to rip the ATM out of its foundation, and stolen vehicles to transport the ATM to the garage. Brandford was present when he and his conspirators cut open approximately 10 to 12 ATMs in his garage. Other ATMs were stolen as part of the conspiracy, but were cut open at other locations.
The ATMs were stolen from banks, convenience stores and a gas station in Bowie, Crownsville, Elkridge, Burtonsville, West Friendship, Gambrills and Edgewater, Maryland; and Stafford, Woodbridge and Fairfax, Virginia. Front-end loaders, a car and trucks used to transport the ATMs were stolen from constructions sites and businesses located in Bowie and Beltsville, Maryland; and from Woodbridge and Lorton, Virginia.
Judge Blake determined at sentencing that the loss resulting from three bank ATMs discussed at trial is $381,281, including cash stolen from the ATMs and the value of the ATMs themselves.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation for its investigative work. Mr. Rosenstein commended Assistant United States Attorneys Michael J. Leotta and Cheryl Crumpton, who prosecuted the case.
