Vero Beach Bank Robber Pleads Guilty

Tyler Scott Topolski, 20, of Vero Beach, pled guilty today before Chief United States Magistrate Judge Frank J. Lynch, Jr. in Ft. Pierce.

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, Deryl Loar, Sheriff, Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, and David E. Currey, Chief, Vero Beach Police Department, made the announcement. 

Topolski pled guilty to an indictment charging him with bank robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code Section 2113(a).  Sentencing is scheduled for June 3, 2016 before United States District Judge Kenneth A. Marra in Ft. Pierce.  At sentencing, Topolski faces a possible maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison.

According to Court records, on November 6, 2015, at approximately 2:28 p.m., Topolski entered the Florida Community Bank, located at 4000 20th Street, Vero Beach, with a demand note, which read, “NO dye Paacs, I need All the 50’s & 100’s In the Bag! Fan the bills out first. Any restiance I will kill you & myself.”  Topolski left with approximately $973.00 in cash.  The note was later recovered in a nearby parking lot. 

After Vero Beach Police Department detectives received information from the community, identifying Topolski from bank surveillance photographs, they obtained a South Carolina driver’s license in order to confirm his identity.  Several bank witnesses positively identified Toploski from photographic lineups.  As a result, the detectives obtained a State of Florida Arrest Warrant for Topolski and notified the Horry County Police Department in South Carolina.  On November 7, 2015, Topolski was successfully captured, after he was located, hiding in his mother’s closet in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  Topolski gave detectives a full confession, admitting that he had cut his facial hair, in order to conceal his identity.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI, Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, Vero Beach Police Department, and Horry County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina for their work on this case.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carmen Lineberger.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.