Ashley Patterson, Bank Robbery with Firearm, IN 2024

Hammond, IN — A Crown Point woman is headed to federal prison after a violent bank robbery that ended with gunfire and $10,000 stolen. Ashley Patterson, 29, was sentenced to 125 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to bank robbery and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.

The heist went down on March 29, 2014, at First Merchant’s Bank in East Chicago, Indiana. Patterson and co-defendant Jeremiah Ellis stormed the branch armed with guns, terrifying employees and customers before making off with approximately $10,000 in cash. Surveillance footage later showed both suspects brandishing firearms during the robbery.

As Patterson sped away behind the wheel, Ellis opened fire from the passenger seat — a reckless act that escalated the crime from robbery to a federal firearms violation. The discharge of the weapon during the escape triggered enhanced penalties under federal law, sealing Patterson’s lengthy sentence despite her not pulling the trigger herself.

Documents filed in U.S. District Court detail the coordinated nature of the crime, with Patterson driving and Ellis acting as the armed accomplice inside. Under federal sentencing guidelines, aiding and abetting a violent crime with a firearm carries severe consequences — a reality Patterson now faces behind bars for more than a decade.

The FBI’s GRIT Task Force led the investigation, working alongside agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to identify and apprehend the suspects. Prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang, who pushed for accountability in a case that endangered public safety.

United States Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II confirmed the sentencing, underscoring federal commitment to cracking down on armed financial crimes. Patterson’s 125-month sentence reflects the gravity of combining robbery with gun violence — a decision meant to send a message to others considering similar acts.