Robbed Two Banks a Total of Five Times in Five Months
BALTIMORE (May 10, 2012)—U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced William Alexander Norbeck, age 32, of Crofton, Maryland, today to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for armed bank robbery and the use of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence. Judge Bredar also ordered Norbeck to pay restitution of $30,500.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Anne Arundel County Police Chief James Teare, Sr.
According to Norbeck’s plea agreement, he had previous experience working at financial institutions. On Wednesday, March 23, 2011, at about 2:00 p.m., Norbeck, wearing a hooded sweatshirt and neoprene mask to conceal his identity, entered the M&T Bank at 510 Solomons Island Road in Prince Frederick, Maryland. Norbeck was carrying a pistol grip, 12 gauge pump action shotgun, which he had recently acquired from a pawn shop in Glen Burnie, Maryland. Upon entering the bank, Norbeck “racked” or chambered a shotgun round and ordered everyone to get down. Norbeck then went to one of the teller positions and told the teller he wanted money from the top drawer and bottom vault and no dye packs or bait money. After getting $8,948 from two tellers Norbeck left the bank through the front door, stating “thank you, have a nice day,” or words to that effect, on the way out. As a result of the robbery, six nearby schools were placed on lock-down as a safety precaution.
On Tuesday, April 5, 2011, Norbeck robbed the same bank, again wearing clothing and a mask to conceal his identity. As he entered, he said, “okay girls, same deal as last time, top drawer, bottom vault, I have a scanner, no buttons [silent alarm] like last time,” or words to that effect. Fearful for their safety and that of others, the tellers gave Norbeck $4,533. As he was watching them gather money, Norbeck said, “sorry about last time . . . the schools won’t be locked down this time,” or words to that effect. As Norbeck was leaving he said, “you ladies have a nice day.”
On June 2, 2011, July 8, 2011, and August 23, 2011, Norbeck robbed the M&T Bank at 3150 Solomons Island Road in Edgewater, Maryland. On each occasion, Norbeck disguised his identity, twice by wearing panty hose over his face and latex type gloves and the last time with a neoprene mask covering part of his face.
During the first robbery, Norbeck approached a teller and said “I need your money, I don’t want to have to use my gun. Don’t give me alarms or bait,” or words to that effect. Norbeck took $3,481, and fled the bank. During the second robbery of this bank, Norbeck stole $3,630. During the third robbery, Norbeck again announced that he had a gun and swung his jacket open to reveal a handgun in a holster on his right hip. He stole $9,908, and fled.
Due to the combination of a prompt notification to law enforcement and the inclusion of tracking material in the money he stole, Norbeck was quickly apprehended. When arrested, Norbeck was in possession of his disguise, the money and a pellet gun that appeared like a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI and Anne Arundel County Police for their work in this investigation and thanked Assistant United States Attorney Michael Cunningham, who prosecuted the case.