Craig Fine Charged in Armed Robbery of First Tennessee Bank

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Craig Fine, 48, of Knoxville, Tennessee, is behind bars, facing federal charges after a terrifying armed robbery at First Tennessee Bank on Merchants Drive. On March 6, 2018, Fine walked into the bank armed with a firearm, demanded cash from a teller, and fired the weapon inside the crowded lobby — escalating a routine transaction into a full-blown crime scene.

According to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court, Fine not only discharged the firearm during the robbery but pointed it directly at the bank teller and multiple customers. Witnesses described a scene of panic as Fine screamed threats and claimed to be carrying a pipe bomb. The explosive device was never recovered, but the threat alone intensified the terror experienced by those trapped inside.

Fine was arrested on March 8, 2018, following a targeted investigation led by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force. Investigators used forensic evidence and an anonymous tip to track Fine’s movements after the robbery. The affidavit outlines surveillance footage, ballistic evidence, and witness statements that directly link Fine to the crime scene and the weapon used.

The defendant appeared in federal court on March 9 before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Bruce Guyton. He was ordered held without bond and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on March 22, 2018, at 1:30 p.m. in U.S. District Court in Knoxville. Fine is charged with armed bank robbery, brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and discharging a firearm in the commission of a violent felony.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly A. Norris is prosecuting the case for the federal government. The FBI Safe Streets Task Force, which includes agents from the FBI, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, and Knoxville Police Department, led the investigation. Authorities have not ruled out additional charges as the probe continues.

Fine remains in federal custody as the justice system moves forward. The public is reminded that an indictment is merely a charge and that every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Still, the evidence in this case paints a picture of raw, calculated violence in broad daylight — and federal prosecutors aren’t cutting any slack.

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