Tampa, Florida – A federal jury has found Derrick Coleman
(41, New Port Richey) guilty of bank robbery. He faces a maximum penalty of 20
years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
Coleman was indicted on August 28, 2019.
According to testimony presented at trial, on June 30, 2018,
Coleman visited a Chase Bank in Tarpon Springs and spoke to a teller about
opening a new account. As the teller explained the process, Coleman placed a
bag on the counter, told the teller that he had a gun, and demanded money from
the teller. The teller complied and Coleman fled the bank with $5,000. The
teller later identified Coleman in a photo lineup.
On that same day, Coleman told his then-girlfriend, who
later testified during the trial, about the robbery. He told her that he had
gotten $5,000 from the robbery. That detail of the robbery was never released
to the public.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation and the Tarpon Springs Police Department. It is being prosecuted
by Assistant United States Attorney Charlie D. Connally.
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of
Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN) — a nationwide, crime
reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It
involves a comprehensive approach to public safety-one that includes
investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry
efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez
coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local
law enforcement officials.
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