Bank Robber Sentenced To Over 17 Years In Prison

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced Mark Edward Coulter, age 55, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, today to 210 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for bank robbery and attempted bank robbery. Judge Bredar enhanced Coulter’s sentence upon finding that he is a career offender based on previous convictions for malicious burning of another person’s personal property and for robbery, both in Montgomery County Circuit Court.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Stephen E. Vogt of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Anne Arundel County Police Chief Kevin Davis; Chief David L. Stokes, Sr. of the Annapolis Fire Department and Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess.

According to court documents and statements made at today’s hearing, on May 3, 2012, Coulter robbed the PNC Bank in Laurel, Maryland. Coulter handed the teller a note threatening that the bag Coulter carried had chemicals in it, but that no one would get hurt if the teller gave Coulter money. The teller, in fear, gave Coulter $4,500 and Coulter left with the cash, leaving the bag behind. Analysis of DNA recovered from the bag determined that Coulter was a contributor to that DNA.

On May 21, 2012, Coulter attempted to rob the Capitol One Bank in Laurel, again handing the teller a note demanding money. The teller did not understand Coulter’s request and advised Coulter that he needed a withdrawal slip. Coulter left the bank without obtaining any money, leaving the note. Law enforcement was able to match Coulter’s fingerprints to prints recovered from the note and from inside the bank.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the FBI, Anne Arundel County Police Department, Annapolis Fire Department and Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ayn B. Ducao and Justin S. Herring, who prosecuted the case.