Myrtle Beach Woman Sentenced for Bank Robberies

United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated that Elysia Nicole Nolan, age 20, of Myrtle Beach, was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison for bank robbery, and for committing another bank robbery while out on bond. United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell of Florence imposed the sentence, and also ordered Nolan to pay restitution in the amount of $10,093.00.

Ms. Nolan and Maurice Russell Small, age 24, also of Myrtle Beach, robbed the Georgetown Craft Credit Union in Georgetown on May 21, 2008, the Citizen’s Bank in Florence on May 29, 2008, and the Anderson Brother’s Bank in Loris on June 2, 2008. They were arrested after the Loris robbery, but were released after posting bond. Less than a month later, the pair robbed the Branch Banking and Trust branch in Murrell’s Inlet on June 26, 2008.

Small was sentenced earlier this year for his participation in the robberies, receiving a prison term of 87 months.

The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II, of the Florence office handled the case.

Florida Man Sentenced for Conway Bank Robbery

United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated today that Eric Lee Scott, age 38, of Florida City, Florida, was sentenced in federal court in Florence, South Carolina, for bank robbery, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(a). United States District Judge Terry L. Wooten sentenced Scott to 90 months in prison, followed by three years supervised release, and ordered him to pay restitution of $2,019.00.

On September 11, 2008, Scott entered the Horry County State Bank at 2301 Highway 701 North in Conway, shouting demands for money. Scott gave a note to a teller, instructing her to put money into a small backpack. Scott then ran out of the bank with the backpack and drove away. Scott subsequently abandoned the car, and investigators traced it to Scott’s nephew. Scott was later arrested in Florida.

The case was investigated by agents of the Horry County Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II, of the Florence office handled the case.

HANAHAN MAN FACES BANK ROBBERY CHARGES

United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated today that Jeffrey Patrick Frye, age 45, of Hanahan, South Carolina, was indicted by a federal grand jury on four counts of bank robbery, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(a).

Frye was charged with robbing the First Citizens Bank on University Boulevard in North Charleston on December 24, 2008; the First Citizens Bank on Sunset Boulevard in Lexington on December 30, 2008; the Bank of South Carolina on Chuck Dawley Boulevard in Mt. Pleasant on January 20, 2009; and the First Citizens Bank on North Main Street in Summerville on January 26, 2009.

Frye could receive a maximum possible sentence of fine of 80 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.

Mr. Wilkins stated that the case was investigated by agents of the FBI, ATF, SLED, North Charleston Police Department, Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, Columbia Police Department, Mount Pleasant Police Department, Summerville Police Department, Charleston Police Department, and the Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office, and that he has assigned the case to Assistant United States Attorney Nick Bianchi of the Charleston office for prosecution.

The United States Attorney stated that all charges in this Indictment are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Sumter Man Guilty After Robbing Same Bank Twice

United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated that Deonta Lamont Carpenter, age 29, of Sumter, South Carolina, pled guilty in federal court to armed bank robbery and a related firearms offense. Carpenter pled guilty during the middle of trial, following two days of testimony. United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr., will sentence Carpenter at a later date.

Carpenter first robbed the Bank of America branch at 1141 Broad Street in Sumter on November 4, 2004. Carpenter entered the bank with a gun and robbed it of more than $20,000. Officers spotted the getaway car and attempted to stop it, but Carpenter jumped from the car with the money and ran into a wooded area near the Turbeville Correctional Institute. The manhunt lasted all day, until SLED bloodhounds tracked down Carpenter and the stolen bag of money he had hidden in the woods.

Carpenter was jailed on state charges for the bank robbery, but was later released on bond in July 2005. Three days after his release, Carpenter robbed the same bank again, this time getting away with more than $330,000. He was captured approximately one week later in Columbia by officers assigned to the Fugitive Squad of the United States Marshals Service.

Carpenter faces a mandatory minimum term of 32 years in federal prison.

The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and the Sumter Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Stan Ragsdale and Bob Jendron of the Columbia office handled the case.