Timothy Shane Mitchell, a 39-year-old man from Kountze, has been sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for a bank robbery in the Eastern District of Texas. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.
Mitchell pleaded guilty to the bank robbery charge and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone on October 31, 2023. The incident occurred on June 6, 2022, at the Lumberton branch of the Community Bank of Texas.
Court information revealed that Mitchell approached a bank teller, presenting a note demanding money and implying possession of a firearm. Threatening to use the gun if authorities were alerted, he obtained a stack of currency from the teller before leaving the premises. However, the teller swiftly activated the panic button, notifying the police of the robbery.
Witnesses provided a description of Mitchell's vehicle, which led to his swift apprehension shortly after the robbery. Mitchell was arrested, and the $5,860 in stolen currency was recovered at the time of his apprehension.
The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the Lumberton Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph R. Batte.
