Dwayne Winans Jr., Bank Robbery, Louisiana 2016

NEW ORLEANS, LA — Dwayne Winans Jr., a 25-year-old man known on the streets as “Butter,” has been indicted in a six-year-old bank robbery that went cold until federal prosecutors revived the case. A federal grand jury returned the indictment on May 16, charging Winans with one count of bank robbery under Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(a).

The charges stem from an armed heist at Fidelity Bank located at 5530 Crowder Boulevard. According to the indictment, on August 4, 2016, Winans walked into the branch, confronted bank staff, and demanded cash. No injuries were reported during the incident, but witnesses described the suspect as aggressive and armed with what appeared to be a handgun. The exact amount stolen has not been disclosed.

If convicted, Winans faces a maximum sentence of twenty (20) years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, up to three (3) years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment. Federal prosecutors are not mincing words—this is a serious violent crime with serious consequences.

U.S. Attorney Peter Strasser, who announced the indictment, credited the dogged work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department for keeping the case alive. “This indictment sends a message,” Strasser said. “No matter how much time passes, we will pursue those who rob financial institutions and threaten public safety.”

Leading the prosecution are Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael E. McMahon, Melissa Bucher, and David Howard Sinkman—veterans in federal bank robbery cases. Their involvement signals the DOJ’s intent to push for maximum penalties, especially given Winans’ street alias and the potential for a pattern of criminal behavior.

Winans remains in custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana continues to urge anyone with information about the 2016 robbery or Winans’ activities to contact federal authorities. In New Orleans, the past doesn’t always stay buried—especially when the feds come calling.

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