NORTH MIAMI MAN ARRESTED AND CHARGED IN BANK ROBBERY
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, announced that Jeffrey Harrington, 27, of North Miami, was arrested yesterday by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in connection with a bank robbery.
On June 21, 2011, Harrington was charged in a criminal complaint with bank robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(a). Harrington made his initial appearance in court this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lurana S. Snow. A pre-trial detention hearing is scheduled for June 30, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. before the same magistrate judge.
According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, on June 21, 2011, Harrington entered the Bank of America located at 801 Hallandale Beach Boulevard, Hallandale Beach, Florida, wearing a dark business suit. Harrington approached a teller and presented a note directing the teller to fill envelopes with money and warning the teller not to set off the alarm because it would trigger an explosive. The note also said: “Remember the money is insured[.] Don't be a hero." Harrington also orally demanded money and indicated that he had an explosive detonator.
The teller handed an envelope containing money to Harrington. Harrington left the bank and entered a parked taxi cab. Law enforcement learned that the taxi cab picked Harrington up that morning near his home. After the robbery, the taxi cab dropped Harrington off at the barber shop where he works. A barber shop staff member said that he saw Harrington at the shop placing a large amount of money in his pocket. Further investigation confirmed that Harrington was the person who robbed the Bank of America. The FBI arrested Harrington on June 22, 2011.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI and the South Florida Violent Crimes Task Force for their work on this case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Linder.
A complaint is only an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
