Federal Grand Jury Indicts Hutchins Man and Woman for Their Roles in the Murder of an U.S. Postal Service Employee

DALLAS — A federal grand jury in Dallas returned a three-count indictment this week charging Donnie Arlondo Ferrell, 25, and Bei-jing Tashawna Walker, aka “Channelle Walker,” 24, both of Hutchins, Texas, with felony offenses related to the February 19, 2018 murder of a United States Postal Service employee. The announcement was made today by U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox of the Northern District of Texas.

Last month, Ferrell was charged in a related criminal complaint.  The indictment charges Ferrell with one count of murder of an officer or employee of the United States and one count of using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.  Walker is charged with one count of accessory after the fact. Both defendants will remain in custody pending further court hearings.

According to the indictment filed in the case, on February 19, 2018, Ferrell shot and killed an United States Postal Employee while the employee was on duty.  Walker assisted Ferrell after the shooting to prevent Ferrell from being apprehended.

A federal indictment is an accusation by a grand jury.  A defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty.  If convicted, however, the defendants’ sentences will be determined by the court after a review of the federal sentencing guidelines and factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record (if any), the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation   

The Dallas Police Department and United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys P.J. Meitl, John Kull and Brian Portugal are prosecuting.

Bank Robber Sentenced to 210 Months in Federal Prison for Robbing Chase Bank in Dallas in January 2012

DALLAS—Joseph Demont Anderson, 32, of Dallas, has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor to 210 months in federal prison, following his conviction at trial in May for robbing a Chase Bank in Dallas earlier this year, announced U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.

According to evidence presented at trial, on January 18, 2012, Anderson and co-defendant Jeremy Butler, 25, robbed the Chase Bank branch located at 1838 S. Buckner Blvd. in Dallas. Butler entered the bank and robbed it, while Anderson drove Butler to the bank for the purpose of robbing it. After Butler robbed the bank, Anderson picked him up, but when they saw the police following them, Anderson stopped his vehicle, and they decided to run.

The evidence also showed that Anderson was captured not far from the vehicle after a brief foot chase, while Butler was eventually found inside a residence where officers were alerted by a woman inside. When officers approached the residence, the woman looked out of the window and frantically told officers that someone was in her house. Officers assisted the woman out of the window and then entered the house. Officers found Butler hiding in the kitchen and the money from the robbery hidden under a mattress.

While Butler, who has been in custody since his arrest, filed plea papers in March 2012, the court granted his motion last week to withdraw the filed factual resume. In May 2012, the court ordered that Butler undergo a psychiatric examination, and currently, the defendant has a motion pending that requests a hearing to establish his mental capacity.

The case was investigated by the Dallas Police Department and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Keith Robinson and Brandon McCarthy prosecuted.

Local Woman Sentenced to More Than 13 Years in Federal Prison for Robbing Chase Bank in Dallas

DALLAS—Debbie Regina Norman, 48, of Dallas, was sentenced this morning by U.S. District Judge David C. Godbey to 160 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $3,900 in restitution following her guilty plea in January 2012 to one count of bank robbery, announced U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.

According to documents filed in the case, Norman entered the Chase Bank branch located at 2833 Martin Luther King Boulevard in Dallas on the morning of June 15, 2011. She presented a note to a teller that read, “Ima shoot you geme money,” and then began shouting and saying, “Right now.” As she was shouting, she put her hand inside of a dark bag as if she had a weapon. The teller gave her cash, and Norman left the bank. She was later arrested by officers with the Dallas Police Department and has been in custody since that time.

The Dallas Police Department and the FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Robinson was in charge of the prosecution.

Handsome Guy Bandit Enters Guilty Pleas, Admits Robbing 11 Banks in Texas, and Now Faces Up to Life in Prison

DALLAS—Steven Ray Milam, 44, of Richardson, Texas, pleaded guilty this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Renée Harris Toliver to one count of brandishing a firearm during or in relation to a crime of violence and one count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during or in relation to a crime of violence in connection with a string of 11 bank robberies, six of those armed bank robberies, he admitted committing in Texas last year. Milam faces a maximum statutory sentence of not less than 32 years, or more than life, in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay on September 17, 2012.

Milam was given the moniker “Handsome Guy Bandit” by the FBI because of the latex mask he wore when committing the robberies.

According to plea documents filed in the case, Milam admitted robbing the following banks:

■April 19, 2011: BBVA Compass Bank, 14852 Preston Road, Dallas

■May 2, 2011 Bank of America, 7300 North MacArthur Blvd., Irving, Texas

■May 13, 2011 Wells Fargo Bank, 17088 Preston Road, Dallas

■May 17, 2011 First National Bank, 1300 Preston Road, Plano, Texas

■June 11, 2011 American National Bank, 1101 E. Plano Parkway, Plano, Texas

■July 14, 2011 First Community Bank, 1755 North Collins Road, Richardson, Texas

■August 30, 2011 Patriot Bank, 9545 Katy Freeway, Hedwig Village, Texas

■September 12, 2011 Wells Fargo Bank, 5219 Richman Avenue, Houston, Texas

■September 29, 2011 Prosperity Bank, 5919 Forrest Lane, Dallas

■November 22, 2011 BB&T Bank, 11800 Preston Road, Dallas

■December 31, 2011 BBVA Compass Bank, 1401 Campbell Road, Richardson, Texas

During the last bank robbery, on December 31, 2011, Milam entered the bank wearing a mask, black frame glasses, a blue warm-up suit, a white ball cap, latex gloves, and was and holding a clear bag and carrying a black semi-automatic handgun. He approached the teller, displayed the gun and demanded money. He then forced the employees and customers into the vault at gun point and told the bank manager to empty the teller drawers, stating, “No dye packs or trackers. I’ll kill you if you put them in the bag.” Milam then forced the employees and customers into the bathroom, told them to count to 500, and said not contact the police.

Police officers intercepted Milam walking away from the bank after the robbery, and when they approached him in their vehicles, he pointed the gun at them. He fired one round at the officer’s squad car, hitting the driver’s side front windshield just above the inspection sticker, causing the glass to shatter over the officer’s head and shoulders. The officers retreated, and Milam shot two more times striking the driver’s door and the back left passenger door of the squad car. He fled on foot, discarding his gun, mask, keys, clothes, and money. He ran to his home in Richardson, packed clothes, and drove to Austin, spending that night in Austin.

The following day, while en route to Florida, he was spotted in Mississippi. Officers attempted to apprehend him, but Milam refused to pull over and a high-speed chase ensued. Milam almost struck several vehicles in the process of escaping and officers shut down portions of the highway in order to deploy road spikes. Milam took evasive maneuvers to avoid the spikes. As a last resort, the local Mississippi sheriff pulled up beside Milam and shot out his back tire, disabling his car and allowing law enforcement to take him into custody.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI, in conjunction with the Richardson Police Department and the Dallas Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon McCarthy and Keith Robinson.