Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog
A man believed to have been involved in at least eight bank robberies throughout Washtenaw County over a year time period spanning 2011 and 2012 has been arrested by a fugitive task force in Los Angeles. Charles Anthony Williams, a 40-year-old resident of Los Angeles, was arrested on Thursday March 28. According to Detective Don Lupi of the Saline police, Williams was a member of a group that has committed a string of bank robberies across the U.S.
In Michigan, a task force was organized in the efforts to apprehend the bank robbers. This task force included Ann Arbor, Jackson, and Saline police departments, the Michigan State Police, the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office, Pittsfield Township Dept. of Public Safety, and the FBI. Lupi stated in a news article at AnnArbor.com that “It’s nice when a department of our size that doesn’t have the resources has other, larger departments with resources step up and help.”
Some of the banks it is believed Williams had a part in robbing include Bank of America at 2250 W. Michigan Avenue and PNC Bank at 3175 West Clark Road, both in Ypsilanti Township; America 1 Credit Union and a Citizens Bank both in Jackson, and Comerica Bank and Flagstar Bank in Ann Arbor.
Security cameras revealed that the suspects were wearing masks in the commission of the bank robberies, similar to those worn by Jason in the Friday the 13th movies according to investigators. The suspects also implied they were in possession of weapons or pulled out guns, according to news reports.
Authorities are not clear how many other individuals were involved with Williams in the bank robberies. Williams will face prosecution by the federal government according to Detective Bill Stanford of the Ann Arbor Police Department. He also said that the others involved in the robberies can expect to be charged by U.S. attorneys when apprehended.
Michigan armed robbery lawyers know that the penalties those convicted on charges of armed bank robbery are severe, and that those who are prosecuted at the federal level will face even harsher consequences if convicted. At the state level, an individual convicted of stealing money or property and possessing a gun or other dangerous weapon, or even insinuating the presence of a weapon, will face up to life in prison.
If you or someone you know has been arrested for robbery, it is imperative that you obtain the legal support and guidance of a skilled Michigan criminal defense attorney right away.