Bank Robbery Charges Defense

Houston Bank Robbery Lawyer – Shahin Zamir

The crime of bank robbery is a serious problem across the U.S. Because financial institutions are insured by the federal government, the money they store has a guarantee of protection. This means that any theft crime at a savings or loan association will be investigated by the FBI, and nearly all robbery crimes at banks are classified as federal offenses.

As a federal offense, the robbery of a bank can carry strict penalties for anyone convicted of this crime. Whether the robber stole vast sums of money or just a few hundred dollars, severe punishments can be handed down with a conviction.

Call Houston attorney Shahin Zamir: 713-223-8900.

Financial Institution Robbed a Bank Penalties

The sentences handed down in credit union robbery cases are determined based on a few different factors. The first factor in determining an appropriate penalty is the actual amount of money that was stolen. Higher amounts of stolen money generally mean tougher sentences. For example:

• Theft of $1,000 or less can result in a sentence of up to, but not more than, one year in jail as long as the case did not include aggravating factors.
• Stealing more than $1,000 can result in a felony conviction that carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

The next factor in determining punishments for convicted bank robbers is the use of threats during the robbery. If the accused used any kind of threat at any point during the crime, their sentences could be upgraded upon conviction. For example:

• If an alleged criminal is found to have used threats during their crime, they could be charged with a class C felony, regardless of how much money was stolen. This crime is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

The final factor in determining sentences is the use of weapons or violence and whether or not anyone was injured or killed during the crime.

• If the thief used a gun, knife or some other sort of dangerous device during the robbery, their crime could be automatically upgraded to a Class B felony, punishable by up to 25 years in federal prison.
• If anyone was killed or injured during the course of the robbery, the convicted offender could face a Class A felony charge with a sentence of life in prison. This felony crime also has the potential to sentence the convicted robber to the death penalty.

Get a Consultation With a Robbing a Bank Lawyer in Houston, TX

By working to find evidence of inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case, an experienced bank robbery defense attorney may be able to protect a defendant’s rights in court. If the attorney is able to show that the prosecution’s evidence is inconclusive or circumstantial, the charges may be reduced or dropped.

For more information on legal defenses and penalties, get a free consultation with Houston bank robbery attorney Shahin Zamir by calling 713-223-8900.