Bank Robbed Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Robbing Three Banks, Including Two Banks in Salisbury

BALTIMORE—U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Robert Joseph McLaughlin, age 39, of Lewes, Delaware, today to nine years in prison, followed by three years of supervise release, for robbing two banks in Salisbury, Maryland, and a bank in Seaford, Delaware. Judge Blake also ordered McLaughlin to pay restitution of $7,448.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Salisbury Police Chief Barbara Duncan; Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis; Wicomico County State’s Attorney Matthew Maciarello; Chief Bernadette DiPino of the Ocean City Police Department; and Seaford, Delaware Police Chief Gary Morris.

According to his plea agreement, on December 9, 2009, McLaughlin entered the Citizens Bank located at 22870 Sussex Highway in Seaford, Delaware, and demanded that the tellers fill a plastic bag he brought with money. The tellers filled the bag with $1,673, as well as dye packs. McLaughlin took the bag of money, removed the dye packs, and left the bank.

On February 27, 2010, McLaughlin entered the Shore Bank located at 1503 S. Salisbury Boulevard in Salisbury, patted his pockets, and mumbled that he forgot something. A short while later McLaughlin returned, having changed his clothes, now wearing glasses and a baseball hat, and showed the teller a note demanding money. The teller handed over $3,990 from her bank drawer, and McLaughlin took the money, wrapped it inside the note, and fled the bank.

On August 3, 2010, McLaughlin also used a note demanding money and robbed the Farmer’s Merchant Bank of Willards, located at 102 Milford Street in Salisbury, of $1,785.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI, Salisbury Police Department, Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office, Wicomico County State’s Attorney’s Office, Ocean City Police Department, and Seaford Police Department for their work in the investigation and prosecution and thanked the Delaware State Police for their assistance. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney Paul E. Budlow, who prosecuted the case.