Charleston Bank Robber Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison

Charleston, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Johnathan Clayton, age 39, of Charleston, South Carolina, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison after pleading guilty to bank robbery by force, violence, and intimidation. 

Evidence presented to the court showed that on October 13, 2017, at approximately 11:35 a.m., a bank on Broad Street was robbed by a black male, approximately 30 years old and 6’7” tall.  The bank teller stated that the man was wearing a work uniform and demanded money from the teller’s drawer or he would shoot her.  The teller did not see a gun, but the male had his left arm by his side and looked as though he was concealing something near his left pant pocket.  He began to count down from five and told the teller to “stop procrastinating.” After he received approximately $1,860, he fled the bank on foot. 

City of Charleston Police Department officers reviewed the surveillance video and determined that the suspect was Johnathan Clayton. The bank teller and other witnesses at the bank were able to positively identify Clayton as the suspect in a photo lineup.

United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel sentenced Clayton to a total of 96 months in federal prison, to be followed by a 3-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.  

This case was investigated by the Charleston City Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).  Assistant United States Attorney Emily Limehouse of the Charleston office prosecuted the case.

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