United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas

BANK ROBBER SENTENCED TO THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE ALLOWABLE

Defendant Used DART Railway as His “Getaway” Transportation

DALLAS — A New York City man, Derrick Adrian Johnson, 37, who attempted to rob the Wells Fargo Bank at 7000 W. Northwest Highway in Dallas on July 26, 2006, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Jane J. Boyle to 115 months in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. At the sentencing hearing, Judge Boyle found that Johnson had perjured himself and obstructed justice and sentenced him to the maximum sentence allowable under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. During the trial, Johnson testified and attempted to convince the jury that he was not a bank robber, but a New York financial consultant who was sought out by Fortune 500 companies across the country.

A federal jury returned a guilty verdict in less than 10 minutes. He was tried on a one-count indictment charging him with the above bank robbery. During that trial, the government presented evidence that Johnson attempted to rob four other banks that day, using the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) as his getaway vehicle, before he was finally apprehended going into his fifth bank, the Bank of America on Greenville Avenue at Lover’s Lane in Dallas. Johnson led several officers, multiple squad cars and a helicopter on a chase through the busy streets of Greenville Avenue and Lovers Lane at rush hour.

The government presented evidence at trial that Johnson disguised himself with a white towel over his face and black gloves while in the banks.

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the investigative efforts of the FBI and the Dallas Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon McCarthy and Katherine Miller prosecuted the case.

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