Conspirators Face Charges for Bank Robbery Hoax Bomb Plot

BIRMINGHAM – Four alleged conspirators were arraigned in federal court last week after being charged with planning a bank heist using a fraudulent explosive device, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Robert O. Posey and ATF Special Agent in Charge Steven L. Gerido.

The quartet—ZACHARY EDWARDS, 35; RALPHEL MAURIE EDWARDS, 34; QUINESE NICOLE NICHOLS, 30; and WENDELL ROY NICHOLS JR., 27—all from Birmingham—were charged in a four-count indictment with conspiring to rob the BBVA Compass Bank in Trussville on November 16.

According to the charges, Zachary Edwards and Quinese Nichols were also accused of carrying a firearm during the planning stages of the crime. Zachary Edwards separately faces two counts of being a convicted felon in possession of firearms—a Ruger 9mm pistol and a Mossberg shotgun.

Zachary Edwards has prior convictions for assault and discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling, according to court documents.

The alleged scheme involved constructing a fake explosive device using materials like cardboard, wire, gunpowder, Play-Doh, and duct tape. The conspirators placed the device at Magnolia Elementary School in Trussville, triggering a police response that they intended to divert from their planned bank heist.

Despite their plan, Zachary Edwards and Quinese Nichols aborted the attempt after spotting a police officer nearby. Ralphel Edwards and Wendell Nichols served as lookouts during the aborted attempted robbery.

The defendants face severe penalties if convicted, with possible sentences ranging from five to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000. The ATF collaborated with local law enforcement on the investigation, led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys William G. Simpson and Michael A. Royster.

As is standard in federal cases, all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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