EX-TEXAS CITY POLICE OFFICER SENTENCED IN SCHEME TO ROB BANK

(HOUSTON) United States Attorney Donald J. DeGabrielle, Jr. announced the sentencing today of Stephen Paul Presley, 45, of LaMarque, Texas. On March 22, 2007, Presley pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank robbery in the courtroom of United States District Judge Samuel B. Kent. Judge Kent sentenced Presley to 12 months imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release.

Testimony from previous court hearings revealed that in January, 2007, Presley contacted a girlfriend and recruited her to help him rob a Guaranty Bank in Texas City, Texas. She contacted the FBI and cooperated with the FBI during the investigation. Presley also attempted to recruit a nephew of his. Presley discussed with the girlfriend how the three of them would enter the bank and rob it, describing how they would all wear dark or black clothing, ski masks to cover their face and gloves so they would not leave fingerprints or DNA material. Presley also had his girlfriend buy a radio frequency scanner at Baybrook Mall and had it programed for Galveston County law enforcement channels.
On January 15, 2007, FBI agents investigating the case observed Presley and his girlfriend check out the Guaranty Bank that was the target of the robbery by driving by the bank.

On January 16, 2007, at approximately 7:30 a.m., Presley drove to a hotel in LaMarque, Texas in order to pick up his girlfriend, meet his nephew and commit the robbery. Presley was arrested by special agents of the FBI without incident. During a search of Presley's car, agents found in the car the police frequency scanner, an open box of disposable latex gloves, two camouflage hunting masks, one pair of black Gore Tex trousers, and a black Gore Tex jacket. Found in the pockets of the jacket were a black BB gun, a pair of mirrored sunglasses, a pair of brown work gloves, two pairs of surgical gloves, and five zip ties. The BB gun appeared to realistically simulate a real .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun.

Presley had faced punishment of 5 years imprisonment with a fine up to $250,000 on the conspiracy charge.

This matter was investigated by the Texas City office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by AUSA Robert Stabe.

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