MERRIWEATHER INDICTED FEDERALLY FOR DEADLY WACHOVIA BANK ROBBERY

BIRMINGHAM, AL - A federal grand jury has indicted WILLIAM MERRIWEATHER, JR., 31, for the May 14, 2007, deadly bank robbery of the Wachovia Bank in Bessemer, Alabama. he indictment is announced today by U.S. Attorney Alice H. Martin and Carmen S. Adams, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation.

"This indictment is the product of the joint cooperation of local, county and federal officials to address one of the most cold blooded and senseless crimes that this District has seen," stated U.S. Attorney Alice H. Martin.

Merriweather is charged in a five-count indictment as follows:

Count One: Armed Robbery resulting in death. Penalties provided by the United States Code are death penalty or life imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.

Count Two: Armed Bank Robbery with forced accompaniment. Penalties provided by the United States Code are not less than ten years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Count Three: Use of and/or carrying a firearm during a crime of violence. Penalties provided by the United States Code are not less than ten years (consecutive) to life imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.

Counts Four and Five: Carrying, use and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence resulting in death. Penalties provided by the United States Code are death penalty or up to life imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.
The indictment alleges that Merriweather entered the Wachovia Bank in Bessemer while armed with a Hi-Point 9mm semi-automatic pistol. During the bank robbery, Eva Lovelady Hudson and Sheila McWaine Prevo were murdered, and the lives of the other bank employees and customers were put in danger. Merriweather tried to avoid apprehension by law enforcement and forced Myron Gooding to accompany him without the consent of Gooding prior to his capture.
Merriweather remains in police custody, since his apprehension at the bank following the events.

"We welcome the United States Attorney's Office's involvement in this investigation, and we will offer any assistance that we can to facilitate their prosecution as well," stated Ted A. Mills, Assistant District Attorney, Tenth Judicial Circuit, Bessemer Division.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with state and local law enforcement assistance. Assistant United States Attorneys William G. Simpson, and William R. Chambers, Jr., are prosecuting this matter on behalf of the U.S. Government.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government's burden to prove a defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.