District Man Sentenced To Four Years In Prison For September 2013 Credit Union Robbery- Defendant Fled On Metro Train Following Robbery -

     WASHINGTON – Norman Ellis, 54, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to four years in prison for robbing a credit union in September 2013, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr., Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI=s Washington Field Office, and Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

     Ellis pled guilty to one count of bank robbery in January 2014 and was sentenced today by the Honorable Richard J. Leon in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Upon completion of his prison term, he will be placed on three years of supervised release. He also was ordered to pay $2,481 in restitution.

     According to a factual proffer of evidence presented at the time of the guilty plea, on the morning of Sept. 21, 2013, Ellis entered a Signal Financial Credit Union, in the 1400 block of Irving Street NW, approached a teller, handed over a note demanding money, and gestured as if he had a gun.  After the teller handed Ellis $2,481 in U.S. currency, Ellis fled the credit union.  Moments following the robbery, Ellis entered the Columbia Heights Metro station, and removed his jacket and baseball cap before boarding a Metro train and fleeing the area.

     Ellis was arrested Oct. 18, 2013 and, during a search of his home, law enforcement recovered the clothing he wore during the robbery.

     In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen, Assistant Director Parlave, and Chief Lanier commended the investigative work of the Special Agents from the FBI’s Washington Field Office who worked on the case and the entire joint FBI/MPD Violent Crimes Task Force. 

     In addition, they acknowledged the work of those who handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Legal Assistant Jessica Moffatt and Paralegal Specialist Starla Stolk, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine K. Connelly, of the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section.  Finally, they thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney David B. Kent, of the Violent Crimes and Narcotics Trafficking Section, who prosecuted the case.