Gerrard Dixon Pleads Guilty to Armed Bank Robbery, Fort Deposit AL,…

FORT DEPOSIT, ALABAMA – A Montgomery man admitted today to his role in the armed robbery of a BancorpSouth Bank in Fort Deposit, Alabama. Gerrard Dixon, already serving time for a separate violent crime, pleaded guilty to armed bank robbery and conspiracy to commit armed bank robbery, federal authorities announced.

The brazen heist occurred on November 4, 2011, at approximately 11:42 a.m. Surveillance footage shows Dixon and his accomplice, Lee Williams, storming into the bank wielding firearms. While Williams held terrified customers and employees hostage, Dixon vaulted over the counter and pilfered over $9000 in cash from two teller drawers. The pair then made a quick getaway in a waiting vehicle.

But this wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. According to the Department of Justice, Dixon and Williams had plotted the robbery since December 7, 2011, procuring weapons and a getaway car. They even returned to Fort Deposit to “case” the bank before the attempted robbery. Their pre-crime activities caught the attention of Fort Deposit police, who had increased patrols around local banks.

When officers attempted a traffic stop, Dixon floored it, leading them on a high-speed chase that ended only when he crashed in Montgomery. Both Dixon and Williams bailed out on foot, but were swiftly apprehended by the Montgomery Police Department. Two loaded firearms were recovered near the wrecked vehicle, solidifying the evidence against them.

“Those that rob banks put tellers, customers and the public at large in serious danger,” stated U.S. Attorney Beck. “These innocent victims are often traumatized by these bank robberies. My office will continue to prosecute those people who intentionally hurt the public for their own monetary gain.” Dixon, currently serving a 30-year sentence for the attempted murder of a convenience store employee, now faces a possible 25-year sentence for the bank robbery charge and an additional 5 years for conspiracy. He also risks a $250,000 fine and up to 5 years of supervised release.

Lee Williams has already entered a guilty plea to similar charges and is awaiting sentencing. The investigation was a joint effort by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fort Deposit Police Department, Montgomery Police Department, and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Susan R. Redmond is prosecuting the case. PRESS CONTACT: Clark Morris, usaalm.press@usdoj.gov, (334) 551-1755.