Cleveland men indicted for armed robberies in Cleveland Heights and Richmond Heights

Two Cleveland men were indicted in federal court for using firearms while robbing a Cleveland Heights store and attempting to rob a bank in Richmond Heights last month.

Otis Pamplin, 18, and Joseph Kyle Sanders, 19, are charged with one count of attempted bank robbery, one count of violating the Hobbs Act, and two counts of using a firearm in a crime of violence.

Pamplin, Sanders and someone identified in court documents as R.E. used a firearm on July 11 in attempting to rob the Ohio Savings Bank at 720 Richmond Road on July 11. Later that day, the three used a firearm to rob LoanMax at 13216 Cedar Road, according to the indictment.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.  In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than maximum. 

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

This cases is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Zarzycki following an investigation by the FBI, Cleveland Heights Police Department and Richmond Heights Police Department.

A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.