Cedar Rapids Man Sentenced To More Than Three Years In Prison For Robbing Bank In Ely

A man who robbed the Solon State Bank in Ely, Iowa, was sentenced on September 2, 2014 to more than three years in federal prison.

Robert Melton, 51, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 15, 2014, guilty plea to one count of bank robbery.

At the guilty plea, Melton admitted he entered the Solon State Bank in Ely on January 17, 2014, and gave a note to a teller demanding money and informing the teller not to do anything and nothing would happen.  The teller gave Melton some cash and Melton left the bank, walked to his truck, and drove away.  A witness to the robbery followed Melton as he drove away from the bank.  The witness called 911 and reported Melton’s location.  Law enforcement officers then stopped Melton and took him into custody.

Melton was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade.  Melton was sentenced to forty-six months’ imprisonment.  A special assessment of $100 was imposed.  He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Melton is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Linn County Sheriff’s Office. 

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/.  The case file number is 14-CR-00024.