Myron Saunders, Bank Robbery, Louisiana 2013

Bank Robbery Strikes New Orleans: Myron Saunders, 35, and Lamar Nero, 24, both residents of New Orleans, have been handed down harsh sentences for their involvement in a string of bank robberies in the city.

On June 24, 2011, Saunders and Nero robbed a Chase Bank in New Orleans, Louisiana. Their crimes did not go unnoticed, as they were later found guilty of the robbery and additional charges related to the use of a firearm during the heist.

The duo’s crimes continued to escalate, culminating in the November 5, 2011, robbery of a Fidelity Homestead Bank in Metairie, Louisiana. It was during this incident that they attempted to rob the bank, but their plan was foiled.

A federal jury delivered a verdict, finding Saunders and Nero guilty of the June 24, 2011, robbery, the December 24, 2011, attempted robbery of a Chase Bank, and the November 5, 2011, robbery of a Fidelity Homestead Bank. Their involvement in the June 24, 2011 Chase Bank robbery also led to charges of using a firearm during the commission of the crime.

On July 2013, U.S. District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown handed down the sentences, with Saunders receiving 228 months of imprisonment and Nero receiving 180 months. Both defendants will also be placed on five years of supervised release following their incarceration and will incur a $500 special assessment.

The case was the result of a collaborative effort between special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and officers and detectives of the New Orleans Police Department and Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nolan D. Paige, Harry W. McSherry, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian C. Ebarb.

The sentencing marks the end of a long and arduous process for the victims of these heinous crimes. The people of New Orleans can rest a little easier knowing that those responsible for these bank robberies have been brought to justice.

Defendant: Myron Saunders

Criminal Charges: Bank robbery, attempted bank robbery, and using a firearm during the commission of a crime

City and State: New Orleans, Louisiana

Exact Date: June 24, 2011 (robbery), November 5, 2011 (robbery), December 24, 2011 (attempted robbery), July 2013 (sentencing)

Sentence: Saunders: 228 months of imprisonment, Nero: 180 months of imprisonment, both with five years of supervised release and a $500 special assessment

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