Armed Bank Robbery Indictment

Michael J. Moore, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announced that on December 15,2011, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Dylan Dougherty Stanley, age 26, a resident of Zephyrhills, Florida; Lee Grace Dougherty, age 29, a resident of Merritt Island, Florida; and Ryan Edward Dougherty, age 22, a resident of Zephyrhills, Florida. The indictment charges all three with bank robbery; discharging, using, and carrying a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence; and also charges Ryan Edward Dougherty with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

The indictment arises from the armed bank robbery of the CertusBank branch on Norman Drive in Valdosta, Georgia, on August 2, 2011. The three are alleged to have robbed the bank of $5168.00, while assaulting and jeopardizing the lives of the individuals in the bank by discharging, using, and carrying firearms which included an AK-47 type rifle pistol, a machine pistol, and a .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun. The.45 caliber Mauser handgun was carried by Ryan Edward Dougherty, who has a previous felony conviction in Florida. The AK-47 type pistol rifle and the machine pistol were discharged inside the bank during the robbery. The defendants were captured in Colorado on August 10, 2011, following a well-publicized national manhunt that ended with the crash of their vehicle and after shots were fired at Colorado law enforcement officers. The three are currently in custody in Colorado and are facing numerous charges in Huerfano County, Colorado. The three also potentially face charges in Pasco County, Florida, where they are believed to have fired shots at a law enforcement officer in Zephyrhills who was attempting to stop the vehicle for speeding on the same morning as the bank robbery.

The bank robbery, a violation of Title18 United States Code, Section 2113, carries a maximum sentence of 25 years’ imprisonment, a maximum fine of $250,000, plus up to five years of supervised release. The firearm offense for discharging, using and carrying during the commission of a crime of violence in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A) carries a mandatory minimum, consecutive sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment up to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, plus up to five years of supervised release. Ryan Edward Dougherty also faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment, an additional $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm in violation ofTitle18 United States Code, Section 922(g)(I) and 924(a)(2).

An indictment is only an accusation, and the accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty at trial.

The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and officers of the Valdosta, Georgia Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert McCullers.

Questions concerning this case should be directed to Sue McKinney, Public Affairs Specialist, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2602.