DEERFIELD BEACH, FL (February 26, 2020) – According to an online news report by LOCAL10.com, agents for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced a suspect in the Deerfield Beach bank robbery. The suspect is accused of robbing $7,000 in Monday's AmTrust Bank robbery. The news report states that the suspect was recently released from federal prison for a prior bank robbery conviction. The report noted that the bank robbery suspect had served 22 years in jail prior to his release.
FBI Agent Cohen stated the suspect entered the AmTrust Bank branch located at 3600 W. Hillsboro Blvd. The agent went on to state that “Phillips admitted he robbed the bank.” The suspect stated to the agent that he robbed the bank because he was unable to find a job, and he needed money.
In the criminal complaint, the bank notified law enforcement using a silent alarm. Broward County Sheriff´s deputies quickly identified the getaway vehicle as a blue Chevrolet Equinox SUV and began pursuing the suspect. At the end of the police chase, the suspect jumped out of his motor vehicle and dove into a canal. Agent Cohen stated, in the online news report, that the getaway vehicle belonged to his father.
Inside the getaway vehicle, law enforcement found a bag with the $7,000 along with the various articles of clothes that suspect used during the robbery to conceal his identity.
The bank robbery suspect appeared in federal criminal court in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The defendant's bond was set at $250,000, and his arraignment is scheduled for March 10, 2020, at 11:15. The judge who set the bond was U.S. Magistrate Judge Lurana S. Snow.
The defendant has been charged with several felony charges, including “taking by intimidation” U.S. currency from a bank.
Federal Statute Title 18, Section 2113 - Bank Robbery
The United States Code Title 18, Section 2113, is also known as the “Federal Criminal Bank Robbery Statute.” Section 2113 defines and provides an outline of the prohibited criminal acts executed against a financial institution. In addition, this statute defines punishments. If found guilty of bank robbery, the penalties include a fine, up to 20 years in prison, or both. If the defendant is found guilty of using a dangerous weapon while committing robbery, the fines are higher, and the prison sentence maximum is raised to 25 years. If a defendant used a toy gun, weapon, or explosive, the statute states the punishments are a fine and up to 25 years in prison. If a defendant murdered or abducted a person during the robbery or attempted to flee police custody, or attempted to free him or her from confinement or arrest, the minimum prison sentence is ten years. If a death occurs during the robbery, if convicted, the defendant is facing either life in prison or the death penalty.