BANK ROBBER PLEADS GUILTY

  Washington, D.C.—United States Attorney Jeffrey A. Taylor announced today that HASKELL E. PARKER, 49, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty to Bank Robbery in United States District Court. Parker faces a likely Sentencing Guideline range of 46 to 57 months imprisonment when he is sentenced by United States District Judge Ellen S. Huvelle on June 13, 2008.

Parker admitted during the plea proceeding that on Friday, December 21, 2007, at approximately 11:15 a.m., he robbed the SunTrust Bank located at 1369 Connecticut Ave., N.W. by passing to the teller a note demanding money. In response, the teller gave Parker a total of $695, which monies included a packet of bills containing a tracking device. Parker took the money, left the bank and immediately traveled to National Wholesale Liquidators, where he made numerous purchases with the proceeds of the robbery. Upon leaving the store, Parker requested a ride from one of the store's courtesy van drivers. As the van approached the exit to the parking lot, which was being monitored by law enforcement, agents saw Parker in the passenger seat of the van and realized that he appeared to match a bank surveillance photo that had been e-mailed to them. Agents then stopped the van and detained Parker, who later was identified by the bank teller as the person who had robbed him. In searches of Parker and the van, agents recovered approximately $535, the glasses worn by Parker during the robbery, the demand note, the tracking device, and Parker’s purchases, which included clothes and electronics. Parker agreed not to contest forfeiture of the monies recovered from these searches and to pay restitution to the SunTrust Bank. Parker also agreed to pay an additional $1397 in restitution in connection with another bank robbery that took place in Georgetown four days earlier.

United States Attorney Taylor commended the excellent work of the investigators in the case, particularly FBI Special Agent John Hummell and MPD Detective Elmer (Buddy) Baylor of the Bank Robbery Squad. He also commended Assistant United States Attorney Angela Schmidt for her work on the case.