REPEAT ARMED BANK ROBBER CHARGED IN FEDERAL COURT
Defendant Faces Mandatory 40 Year Prison Term
ROBERT REVELS, III, 39, of Tacoma, Washington, made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Tacoma late yesterday, charged with Armed Bank Robbery, being Armed During the Commission of a Violent Felony, and being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm - Armed Career Criminal. If convicted on all charges, REVELS faces a mandatory minimum 40 years in prison.
According to the criminal complaint filed in the case, on March 10, 2010, a man wearing a ski mask, pullover gray sweatshirt and dark denim jeans, robbed the US Bank branch on South 38th Street in Tacoma. The robber pointed a black handgun at the tellers and customers and ordered everyone to lie on the floor. When one teller did not move as fast as he wanted the robber yelled, “Get down right now! I will (expletive) shoot you! This is not a fake gun!” He demanded that employees “Hurry up!” and said “I will take hostages if I have to!” The robber left the bank with about $8,100. A tracking device was also placed in the bag. The device lead police to REVELS.
REVELS was arrested some two miles from the bank, and had a bag with cash and the tracking device stuck in the waist of his pants. A police dog was used to trace REVELS’ movements from the point of his arrest. In a garbage can police discovered the clothing worn in the bank robbery as well as a Baretta .40 caliber pistol.
In 1997, REVELS was convicted of two armed bank robberies and use of a firearm in an act of violence. All three convictions were in the Western District of Washington. REVELS was still on federal probation at the time of the robbery. According to the Bureau of Prisons, REVELS was released from custody on those prior convictions in November 2009.
The charges contained in the complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted REVELS faces a mandatory minimum 15 years on the Armed Bank Robbery, and a consecutive mandatory minimum 25 years for being armed during the commission of a violent felony.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Jerry Costello. Mr. Costello is a Deputy Pierce County Prosecutor, specially designated to prosecute gun crimes in federal court.
For additional information please contact Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney’s Office, at (206) 553-4110 or Emily.Langlie@USDOJ.Gov.
