FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

WEDNESDAY - October 8, 2008

BANK ROBBERS PLEAD GUILTY

RALEIGH - Acting United States Attorney John Stuart Bruce announced that in federal court here on Monday, October 6, 2008, THERESA MCNEAL LANCASTER, 44, of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, pled guilty to armed bank robbery, bank robbery, and aiding and abetting a bank robbery. Her son, CICERO LANCASTER, 23, also of Rocky Mount, North Carolina pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank robbery. Both appeared before Senior United States District Judge W. Earl Britt.

THERESA was charged by Indictment on May 22, 2008; while a Superseding Information charged CICERO on October 1, 2008. On October 15, 2007, THERESA absconded with $12,809.55 from the RBC Centura Bank in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. On December 24, 2007, THERESA again robbed an RBC Centura bank in Rocky Mount, taking with her $14,815.90. On January 18, 2008, CICERO assisted THERESA in taking from the Southern Bank in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, $4,903.

For the armed bank robbery charge, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2113(a) and (d), THERESA faces a maximum penalty of up to 25 years imprisonment followed by five years supervised release and up to a $250,000 find. For the charge of bank robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(a) and aiding and abetting a bank robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2113(a) and 2, the maximum penalty THERESA faces for each count is up to 20 years imprisonment followed by three years supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. CICERO faces a maximum penalty of up to five years imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 for conspiring to commit bank robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.

“Bank robberies have traditionally be a focus of my office and of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. We will continue to pursue these cases aggressively to ensure the safety and security of our local branch banks,” stated Mr. Bruce.

Investigation of the case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Yvonne Watford-McKinney served as prosecutor for the government.

News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.