CROSS-DRESSING ASHFORD BANK ROBBER SENTENCED TO 51 MONTHS

HUNTSVILLE, AL—JIMMY M. LEWIS, II, 27, of Ashford, Alabama, was sentenced today by United States District C. Lynwood Smith, Jr. to 51 months in prison for robbing the Alabama Credit Union in Decatur on November 9, 2007.

LEWIS was found guilty of bank robbery after a two day trial held in Huntsville in August of this year.

“Thanks to bank surveillance video as well as the keen eyes of bank employees, Mr. Lewis was able to be identified and apprehended,” stated United States Attorney Alice H. Martin. 

According to the Government’s Trial Memorandum, LEWIS, wearing women’s clothing and carrying a handbag, approached the branch manager and asked for a credit card application. When the manager directed LEWIS to the applications, LEWIS handed the manager a handwritten note. The note read, “1# Remain quiet, 2# hand over all 100's, 3# Do not give less than $20,000, 4# Remember love yourself, It’s just a job no questions, No games, No wrong moves.” The manager then surrendered $9,609.00 to LEWIS. Still pictures taken from the video surveillance were released to area banks. It was reported to law enforcement that on November 9, 2007, LEWIS had been in the People’s Bank in Decatur and had asked for a credit card application, but left without incident. Surveillance video showed LEWIS in the same clothing as worn during the robbery twenty-five minutes later. On January 11, 2008, LEWIS was arrested by the agents of the Los Angeles Fugitive Section when LEWIS entered the United States after an international flight.

“The coordination of local, state and federal law enforcement is remarkable in investigations such as this,” states Carmen S.  Adams Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation. “Police officers and federal agents are commended in this case for their diligent efforts.”

This case was investigated by the Decatur Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Angela Redmond Debro prosecuted the matter on behalf of the United States.