BALTIMORE - James Roland Presley III, 39, of Mechanicsville, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to robbing a bank with a dangerous weapon, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.
According to the plea agreement, on June 29, 2006 Presley robbed the BB&T Bank located at 2 Arnold Road, Arnold, Maryland. Presley wore a mask, gloves and held what appeared to be a black and silver handgun. Presley showed his handgun to everyone inside, ordering them not to move and demanding money. Presley jumped over the gate to the bank teller area, opened teller drawers, and removed approximately $4,453. A nearby eyewitness observed Presley flee the bank, enter a Chevrolet Camaro and drive away.
On July 6, 2006, Presley, wearing gloves and a mask, robbed the Bank of Annapolis located at 50 McKinsey Road West in Severna Park. Presley held what appeared to be a black handgun which he waved in the direction of several bank employees. Presley removed money from two teller drawers. He then demanded access to the vault. As Presley stood by with his weapon in hand, a bank employee entered the vault and began to fill a grocery bag with money. Presley threatened to take one of the employees hostage if the police came to the bank. Presley stole approximately $97,348 and left the bank in a U-Haul truck. Two witnesses observed Presley leave the bank and notified the police.
Anne Arundel County police officers stopped the U-Haul and arrested Presley. Officers discovered bits of red dye consistent with dye found in a bank dye pack on the seat of the truck. They recovered a black BB-handgun, clothing worn during the robberies and the stolen money. Officers found a U-Haul rental agreement in Presley’s name which led them to the rental location where they discovered Presley’s Chevrolet Camaro used in the first robbery.
Presley faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles, Jr. has scheduled sentencing for August 10, 2007 at 9:30 a.m.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the investigative work performed by the Anne Arundel County Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Hanlon, who is prosecuting the case.
Source: United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein