Portland Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison Following Conviction for Bank Robbery
Individual Previously Convicted of Bank Robbery is
Sentenced for the 2007 Bank Robbery of U.S. Bank, Lombard-Emerald Branch

Portland, Ore. – Ralph Rene Williams, 58, of Portland, Oregon was sentenced today to serve 12 years in prison for bank robbery and a supervised release violation by United States District Judge Anna J. Brown.  In April of this year, following a 4-day jury trial, Williams was found guilty of the bank robbery.

The trial involved the August 14, 2007 robbery of U.S. Bank, Lombard-Emerald Branch, where the defendant took over $27,000.00 in cash.  The defendant wore a full disguise and used a firearm to threaten the tellers at the Lombard-Emerald Branch.  An extensive investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) resulted in the government calling 31 witnesses, including bank tellers, experts in the areas of DNA, trace analysis, photo comparisons and paint comparisons.  The government additionally offered 60 exhibits for the consideration of the jury.  The jury returned their verdict of guilty after deliberating for about one hour.   

At the sentencing hearing, the government argued for an upward departure from the federal sentencing guidelines based on the severity of the offense and because several of Williams’ prior conviction were too old to count under the advisory sentencing guidelines.  Judge Brown granted the request and departed upward approximately 2 years to achieve the sentence.

In 1989 Williams was convicted of robbing the nearby North Denver Branch of the First Interstate bank, during which time he also wore a disguise.  Following his release from custody on that offense he was placed on federal supervised  release. 

This case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred Weinhouse and Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Gabriel.

 

 

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