Bank robbery has a more extensive history that defines prohibited criminal conduct. It is one of the more severe crimes that can lead to one getting charged for long sentences in prison and other sanctions. Bank robbery is a violent or forceful act of stealing from the bank and subjecting the employees and bank customers to brutality. It happens during the regular operation of bank activities.

Robbing a national bank or a state member is a federal crime and has laws governing it as part of the Federal Reserve System. It includes theft, bank burglary and other related crimes. There are bank robbery suspects who pose a significant threat to the general public. Such criminals face local law enforcement in local jurisdictions.

In some cases, when a crime got committed years back more than the specified period, the statute of limitations gets applicable in such a situation. The criminal can no longer get prosecuted if the time got deteriorated from the time of the crime. The primary purpose of the rule is that all convictions have enough evidence, both physical and eyewitness, before the law takes its course.

Bank Robbery Laws

Bank robbery laws have harsh penalties than ordinary robbery because banks are national organizations and have a higher standing than private institutions or other business establishments. It is a federal crime, and it applies federal penalties.

The charges take a more extended period than different types of robberies. In this case, bank robbery involves various ways like demanding money from the teller through a written note among others. Such situations get prosecuted by the federal government.

Bank Robbery Crimes and Charges

There are various forms of robbery crimes and charges, depending on the type of robbery act, and the amount stolen. The following rules apply to federal law charges under bank robbery.

• A person who gets to the bank forcefully or violently with the intent to take funds that will affect the operation of the bank entity. The person walks to the bank and hands over a note to the teller demanding for money, gets the money and calmly walks away. The penalty is a hefty fine and up to 20 years in jail.

• In case there was jeopardy in the act that involved assault. The cases applicable are making threats to the teller, the use of weapons, whether toy or real during a robbery.

• A person who secretly receives, stores, conceals or sells any property or money stolen from the bank, credit union or saving associations. The penalty for such can go up to 10 years in jail.

• A person who kills or abducts another using a dangerous weapon or puts in jeopardy the life of another individual. The person could face severe punishment which includes life imprisonment or a death penalty.

• Threatening a bank customer to withdraw money from the ATM at gunpoint. But if they had cash in their possession, it may not be a federal bank robbery.

• A person who forcefully and violently takes or tries to make property or money or any valuable thing belonging to a bank, credit union or savings associations through intimidation. Or a group of people who attempts to get to a bank institution to rob forcefully. The person receives fine under the title or serves not more than twenty years of imprisonment.

• An individual who takes or intents to loot a bank property, money, or any valuable item exceeding $1,000 shall receive a fine of more than ten years imprisonment under the same title.

• Whoever tries to free themselves from arrest, confinement or avoids apprehension for the committed offence, kills another person or influences another into the act without their accord. The person shall get not less than ten years or life imprisonment.

Bank Robbery Sentence Rules

The conviction of bank robbery depends on a wide range of factors which includes;

• Involvement of a weapon during the act and the type of weapons used
• The amount looted
• Injuries and death incidences
• Any abduction during the robbery
• The criminal history of the person
• If the suspect accepts or takes responsibility or the crime

Statute Of Limitations

The bank robbery statutes of limitations under federal law take five years. There will be no trial after the expiration of that period at the federal level. However, there could be charges with more extended statue limitation under specific laws.

Getting Legal Assistance

Bank robbery laws, charges and statutes of limitations can be your path to freedom when you involve an experienced lawyer, especially if you got accused and the case took longer to bring charges.