Alleged Serial Bank Robber Indicted for Five Bank Robberies

Dandre R. Brown, 29, of Godfrey, Illinois, was indicted on February 21, 2018 on five counts of bank robbery and one count of transportation of stolen vehicle, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Donald S. Boyce, announced today.

The indictment alleges Brown committed five bank robberies in southern Illinois between November 29, 2017 and January 10, 2018. On November 29, 2017, Brown allegedly robbed the U.S. Bank at 1520 Washington Avenue in Alton, Illinois. On December 20, 2017, Brown allegedly robbed the Reliance Bank at 2810 Godfrey Road, in Godfrey, Illinois. On December 22, 2017, Brown allegedly robbed the Regions Bank at 347 W. Main Street, in East Alton, Illinois. On January 2, 2018, Brown allegedly robbed the U.S. Bank at 1301 Edwardsville Road, in Wood River, Illinois. Finally, on January 10, 2018, Brown robbed 1st MidAmerica Credit Union at 1702 Troy Road, in Edwardsville, Illinois. A sixth count in the indictment alleges that on December 11, 2017, Brown transported a stolen vehicle from Missouri into Illinois.

If convicted of bank robbery, Brown faces a prison sentence of up to 20 years, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years supervised release. If convicted of all bank robbery counts, Brown could face discretionary, consecutive sentences totaling 100 years. If convicted of Transportation of Stolen Vehicle, Brown faces a prison sentence of up to ten years, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years supervised release.

On January 23, 2018, Brown was apprehended by United States Marshals on a federal arrest warrant in Atlanta, Georgia.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

This prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, Illinois State Police, Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office, and the following police departments: Granite City, Alton, St. Louis County, Godfrey, East Alton, Wood River, and Edwardsville. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James G. Piper, Jr.

An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, that charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.