LUMBERTON, Texas — A 39-year-old Kountze man has been sentenced to federal prison after robbing a Lumberton bank in 2022.
Timothy Shane Mitchell, 39, pleaded guilty to bank robbery on Sept. 16, 2022. He was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison on Oct. 31, 2023.
The robbery happened on June 6, 2022 at the CommunityBank of Texas in Lumberton.
Court documents say Mitchell approached a teller and gave her a note demanding money. He then told the teller he had a gun and threatened to use it if she called police, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The teller gave Mitchell $5,860, and he left the bank. After he left, the teller activated the panic button to alert area authorities.
Witnesses described Mitchell’s vehicle to police. Police dispatch put out a good description of the vehicle the suspect left in, Lumberton Police Chief Danny Sullins previously told 12News.
Shortly after, a sergeant spotted a vehicle matching the description traveling north on US 69 near Lumberton High School. The sergeant tried to pull the vehicle over near the school, and Mitchell instead pulled into a nearby CVS pharmacy where he was arrested,.
Mitchell was arrested less than 1.5 miles away from the bank. The stolen cash was found in the front passenger seat of the vehicle.
Mitchell was taken to the Lumberton Police Station and interviewed by detectives and FBI agents.
Police did not find a gun despite Mitchell’s note stating he had one, according to Sullins. Mitchell told police he ate the note after showing it to the teller.
A federal grand jury handed down an indictment to Mitchell on June 8, 2022.
This case was investigated by the Lumberton Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph R. Batte.
GET NEWS & WEATHER ALERTS | Download the 12News App to your mobile device
CRIME STOPPERS | Submit a tip @ 833Tips.com
CRIME STOPPERS APP | Download the P3 Tips App
If you have information about a crime you could earn a cash reward of up to $1000 by providing an ANONYMOUS tip to Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas.
Call 833-TIPS (8477) or download the P3Tips App on your mobile device to submit your tip anonymously.
Also on 12NewsNow.com…
