Baltimore Man Pleads Guilty to Robbing Three Stores and Three Banks

Baltimore, Maryland – Gregory George Branch age 42, of Essex, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to three armed commercial robberies and three bank robberies.    

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Kevin Perkins of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis; Chief James W. Johnson of the Baltimore County Police Department; Anne Arundel County Police Chief Tim Altomare; Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Wes Adams; Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby.

According to his plea agreement, on June 23 and July 3, 2015, Branch robbed a grocery store in Baltimore and convenience store in Essex, respectively.  In each robbery, Branch approached the cashier, pretending to make a purchase, before raising his shirt to display what appeared to be the handle of a black handgun.  Branch then demanded money from the cashier, who gave him money from the register and Branch left the store.  On July 4, 2015, Branch robbed a discount store in Brooklyn Park, Maryland, displaying what appeared to be a black handgun.  Branch ordered the security guard to place guard’s weapon in a trash can, then ordered the security guard and the store manager to open the safe.  The manager gave Branch approximately $300 from the safe and Branch ran away.

Branch also admitted that on July 1, July 14 and July 17, 2015, he robbed three banks, stealing a total of approximately $4,402.  In each robbery, Branch presented the teller with a note demanding money.  In the note presented in the July 14, 2015, robbery Branch claimed to have a gun and in the robbery on July 17, 2015, Branch pointed what appeared to be a handgun at the teller.

When Branch was arrested, he was in possession of a black pellet gun that was used in all three of the store robberies and the bank robbery on July 17, 2015.

Branch also admitted that he committed nine other robberies or attempted robberies of businesses in Baltimore City and Baltimore County during June and July of 2015.

Branch and the government have agreed that if the Court accepts the plea agreement Branch will be sentenced to 130 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release.  U.S. District Judge Marvin J. Garbis has scheduled sentencing for July 18, 2016 at 10:00 a.m.   

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI, Baltimore Police Department, Baltimore County Police Department; Anne Arundel County Police Department; Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office, Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office and Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney Matthew C. Sullivan, who is prosecuting the case.