Los Angeles Bank Robbery Defense Attorneys
Defense For Those Facing Bank Robbery Charges
Bank robberies may seem like things only done in the movies. Often with fantastical, high-tech gear. However, these criminal acts are still a reality of life in this country. Those accused and convicted of bank robberies will have to face severe punishments, that will likely involve decades in jail and fines in the hundreds of thousands.
However, with a dedicated criminal defense lawyer fighting on your behalf, you may walk away with a lighter sentence, or even dropped charges. We at Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP are experts in our field and have defended clients against a number of high profile crimes. The court room doesn’t scare us, and neither do bank robbery charges. If you need a strong legal defense, call our firm at (213) 688-0460.
The Differences Between Robbery and Bank Robbery
The distinction between robbery and bank robbery may not seem very important. After all, both involve taking property illegally. But the distinction is key when fighting charges, building your defense, and estimating the severity of the penalties you will be facing.
Bank robbery is the act of forcibly or violently taking money from a bank, credit union, or any business that provides savings or loans. Because most banks are federally insured, most bank robberies are tried in federal court. Being convicted of a bank robbery will likely cause you to be labeled as a felon, which will have lasting repercussions throughout your life.
It is important to note that you do not have to be the person entering the bank and physically stealing the money to receive a bank robbery charge. If the robbery involved two or more people, then there will likely be a charge of conspiracy to commit bank robbery, which is also a felony. Even if you were just standing outside the bank and watching for officers, you could still be given the same charge as the people inside the bank itself if the prosecution can link you to the crime.
On the other hand, robbery is a blanket term that refers to the forceful taking of property using a threat of harm to a victim. There are many types of robbery, such as armed robbery, aggravated robbery, or even highway robbery. Robbery, similar to bank robbery, is considered a felony in California. However, the penalties you may face for the crime will be more lenient, and may be easier to defend as well as have lessened.
The Penalties of Bank Robbery
As a federal crime, bank robbery is penalized severely. However, the punishments you may face can be impacted by how the robbery was pulled off, as well as how much money was stolen. For example, if you stole less than $1,000 then you will likely only get a year in prison. However, once your steal more than $1,000 the severity if the penalties dramatically increase. If what you stole was worth more than $1,000, you may be facing:
- Up to 20 years in federal prison
- A fine of up to $250,000
If the robbery in anyway involved the use of a deadly weapon, assault, or the risk of someone’s life, then the penalties can increase to:
- Up to 25 years in federal prison
- A fine of up to $250,000
If you killed someone during the robbery or while trying to escape, or you forcibly moved someone to a second location, which counts as kidnapping, then the mandatory minimum sentence upon your conviction is 10 years in a federal prison. This sentence could extend all the way to life in prison, or even result in you being given the death penalty.
Defending Against a Bank Robbery Charge
The penalties you may face after being charged with bank robbery are severe and incredibly frightening. However, with a skilled criminal defense attorney helping you during your trail, the perfect defense may cause your charges to be dropped, or your punishment to be lessened. Some potential defenses for bank robbery include:
- You were forced to rob the bank through threats of force by a separate party
- You are not the robber and were arrested on mistaken identity
- You did not use force, violence, intimidation, or a deadly weapon during the robbery, so your charges may not qualify as a federal offense
Finding a good defense depends heavily on the details of your case and the circumstances of your arrest. It takes a knowledgeable Los Angeles federal crime defense attorney with years of experience under their belt to properly defend against bank robbery charges. Going into your trial without a strong legal team at your side is one of the biggest mistakes you could make.
Why You Need Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP
We at Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP have decades of criminal defense experience. We have helped clients accused of an array of crimes beat their charges and get back home to their families. If you are facing bank robbery charges, you will need the best Los Angeles criminal defense firm at your side, fighting for you in court. Contact us online or by calling (213) 688-0460. We look forward to hearing from you.
Additional Information
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Phone: (213) 688-0460 
Fax: (213) 624-1942
Recent Case Results
- Complete Dismissal of Molestation Charges
Attorney Mark Werksman’s 29 year old client was falsely accused of molesting two neighborhood children and was subsequently charged with felony child molestation, with a significant prison sentence hanging over his head should he be convicted. Instead, at the preliminary hearing Werksman was able to convince the court to grant his client a complete dismissal of any charges. - Decision Set Aside
Client, a college student in a faulty Title IX case, was awarded $130,000 in attorney fees. - Probation with No Jail Time for Drug Money Laundering Charge
Wilmington man accused in New York federal court of laundering drug money through the sale of laptop computers. Mark was able to get the case transferred to federal court in Los Angeles, where he convinced the United States Attorney to reduce the charges. His client was sentenced to probation with no jail time on a misdemeanor conviction.
