Jacksonville Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Bank Robberies

NEW BERN, N.C. – A Jacksonville man was sentenced today to 144 months in prison for bank robbery and brandishing a handgun during a robbery and was ordered to pay $58,333.00 in restitution.  On August 10, 2021, Michael Donell Moore pled guilty to the charges.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, Moore, 29, robbed two banks during May 2019.  On May 8, 2019, Moore entered the First Citizens Bank in Wilson, North Carolina, wearing a hoodie, surgical mask, and latex gloves.  Moore handed the bank teller a note demanding money and threatened to kill everyone in the bank.  Moore also pointed a handgun at the bank teller.  Moore was able to take $29,607 from the bank.

On May 28, 2019, Moore robbed the CresCom bank in Chocowinity, North Carolina.  Moore entered the bank wearing a hazmat suit, sunglasses, and a surgical mask.  Moore approached the bank teller and handed her a note.  The note stated Moore had a bomb and the bank teller had one minute to let Moore into the bank vault.  Moore was also holding a silver revolver in his right hand.  Moore was able to leave the bank with $28,726.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Wilson Police Department, Chocowinity Police Department, and Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney John Parris prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:20-cr-00408-FL.