Two Men Sentenced to a Total of 119 Months Imprisonment for Bank Robbery in Hot Springs

Acting United States Attorney Kenneth Elser
Western District of Arkansas
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                   CONTACT: Joyce Snow
   February 3, 2016                                          PHONE: (479) 494-4066

TWITTER: @WDARnews

TWO MEN SENTENCED TO A TOTAL OF 119 MONTHS IMPRISONMENT FOR BANK ROBBERY IN HOT SPRINGS

            Hot Springs, Arkansas - Kenneth Elser, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that two men were sentenced on one count each of Bank Robbery, Aiding, and Abetting in connection with a 2014 bank robbery in Hot Springs.  Nicholas Tolerson, age 36 of Little Rock, was sentenced yesterday to 77 months in prison and three years supervised release.  James Pritchett, age 30 of Maumelle, was sentenced on January 27, 2016 to 42 months imprisonment and three years supervised release.  The Honorable Susan O. Hickey presided over the sentencing hearings in the United States District Court in Hot Springs.

            According to court records, on April 4, 2014, officers with the Hot Springs Police Department responded to a bank robbery at Bancorp South. Upon their arrival, officers spoke with witnesses who observed a man running out of the bank carrying a red bag and getting into a silver Cadillac. Witnesses were also able to relay the tag number of the vehicle to officers. Later that day, officers located the suspect’s vehicle in front of the Oaklawn Race Track and a pursuit ensued. The vehicle crashed, and after a foot pursuit, both suspects were taken into custody.  The driver was identified as James Pritchett, and the passenger was identified as Nicholas Tolerson. Officers were also able to locate the red bag that Tolerson used during the robbery and had thrown out of the vehicle during the pursuit. A Federal Grand Jury issued an indictment for Tolerson and Pritchett on May 7, 2014. Tolerson pleaded guilty on March 18, 2015. Prichett pleaded guilty on May 21, 2015.

            This case was investigated by the Hot Springs Police Department and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Harris prosecuted the case for the United States.

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Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website @ www.pacer.gov