Myrtle Beach Bandits Hit Bank, Face Life Sentence

Three brazen suspects are facing the possibility of spending the rest of their lives behind bars after they were indicted for a high-profile bank heist in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. United States Attorney Beth Drake announced that Lance Hardiman, Justin Pressley, and Rodrick Berklery, all from Longs, South Carolina, have been charged in an 8-count federal indictment stemming from the violent takeover of the South State Bank on May 4, 2016.

The trio was accused of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, armed bank robbery, use and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, obstruction of justice/witness tampering, and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Hardiman and Pressley also face charges of being felons in possession of firearms. The severity of the charges means that if convicted, each defendant could receive a life sentence.

In addition to the life sentence threat, the defendants are also facing a mandatory 35 years if found guilty of using and discharging firearms in furtherance of their heist. This sentence would be consecutive to any other sentences they might receive.

The investigation into this brazen crime was a joint effort by the FBI, North Myrtle Beach Police Department, SLED, and Horry County Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Jim May and JD Rowell, along with Special Assistant United States Attorney Scott Hixson from the 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, have been assigned to prosecute the case.

Despite the serious charges, Drake emphasized that all accusations against Hardiman, Pressley, and Berklery are merely allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by violent crime in our communities and the commitment of law enforcement to bring such criminals to justice.