Father And Son Indicted For Armed Bank Robbery

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that a grand jury has returned a four-count indictment charging Brandon Loyd, 19, and his father, Duane Loyd, 44, both of Buffalo, NY, with bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during the bank robbery. The bank robbery charges carry a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The firearm charge carries a mandatory penalty of at least seven years prison up to life in prison, consecutive to any prison term imposed for the bank robbery and a $250,000 fine. Duane Loyd was also charged with possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony offense, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank T. Pimentel, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, on December 7, 2015 at approximately 11:40 a.m., Brandon Loyd walked into the Key Bank located at 4248 Delaware Avenue in Tonawanda, NY, put a painter’s respirator mask over his face, approached the tellers, and demanded money.  As he was demanding money, the defendant displayed a firearm and issued orders causing the customers in the bank to raise their hands in the air. Brandon Loyd subsequently fled the bank with and entered a vehicle driven by his father, Duane Loyd. 

A police chase ensued which resulted in the getaway vehicle and a City of Tonawanda Police cruiser colliding. Both Duane Loyd and Brandon Loyd fled the getaway vehicle but were captured shortly thereafter. Police recovered a disassembled pistol with a magazine containing 12 rounds of ammunition.

The two will be arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Hugh B. Scott at a later date.

The indictment is the culmination of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Adam S. Cohen; the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Jerome C. Uschold, III; the City of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief William Strassburg; and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.