HARRISBURG — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle), published as received.

HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on December 1, 2021, James Henderson Bryant III, of Westminster, Maryland, was indicted by a federal grand jury for committing five bank robberies in Adams, Cumberland, and York Counties between July 19, 2021 and October 5, 2021. 

According to U.S. Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that Bryant robbed branches of BB&T Bank and Citizens Bank taking approximately $28,823 in total during the five robberies:  

  • July 19, 2021 - BB&T Bank, Hanover, PA $3,026
  • August 9, 2021 - BB&T Bank, Gettysburg, PA $8,670
  • August 30, 2021 - BB&T Bank, Spring Grove, PA $8,710
  • September 22, 2021 - Citizens Bank, Dillsburg, PA $6,206
  • October 5, 2021 - Citizens Bank, Carlisle, PA $2,211

The indictment also alleges that Bryant used a dangerous weapon during the commission of two of the robberies. Angell Dawn Peacher, age 34, of Westminster, Maryland, was also charged with aiding and abetting Bryant’s commission of the October 5, 2021, bank robbery.

This case was investigated by the FBI.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian T. Haugsby is prosecuting the case.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged by indictment are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law for armed bank robbery is 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, followed by a period of supervised release following imprisonment.  Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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