Ft. Pierce Man Sentenced for Armed Robbery of Riverside National Bank

February 3, 2010 - Jeffrey H. Sloman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Field Office, announced the sentencing of defendant Terry Burney Delion, Jr., 23, of Ft. Pierce, Florida. The defendant had been charged with bank robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a), and using/brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(ii).

On February 1, 2010, U.S. District Court Judge Donald L. Graham sentenced Terry Burney Delion, Jr. to 33 months in prison on the bank robbery charge, and imposed a separate consecutive term of seven years in prison on the charge of using a firearm during the robbery. The total sentence was 117 months' incarceration, to be followed by three years of supervised release.

According to records filed with the court, at approximately 9:00 a.m. on September 30, 2009, Terry Burney Delion, Jr., wearing all black clothing and mask, entered the Riverside National Bank branch on Okeechobee Road in Ft. Pierce, FL. Delion shouted for everyone in the bank to put their hands up and he pointed his silver hand gun at the four tellers. As he went to each teller, Delion demanded that the cash drawers be emptied into the white plastic bag. A bank audit determined that Delion received approximately $24,437.70 from the tellers.

A witness saw Delion run and enter a four door black car. As Delion drove away, Ft. Pierce Police and the St. Lucie County Sheriffs spotted him. Following a car chase and foot pursuit, Delion was captured without incident. Upon capture, officers recovered a white bag filled with cash, a black knit mask with eye holes cut out, and a loaded silver-colored .22 caliber hand gun, and other items.

Mr. Sloman commended the investigative efforts of the Ft. Pierce Police Department, St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carmen Lineberger and Theodore Cooperstein.