Rodercus Freeman, Bank Robbery, Tennessee 2018

Rodercus Freeman, 42, will spend over two decades in federal prison for a brazen bank robbery and an attempted credit union heist in Memphis, Tennessee.

Freeman was convicted of the charges following a five-day jury trial in August 2022. United States Attorney Kevin Ritz announced the sentence today.

According to Ritz and information presented in court, on August 18, 2018, Freeman robbed Independent Bank on Poplar Avenue in Memphis, using a simulated firearm. Two weeks later, Freeman attempted to rob Southern Security Federal Credit Union on Ridge Meadow Parkway.

United States District Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr., sentenced Freeman to 240 months for the bank robbery and 22 months for the attempted credit union robbery, to run consecutive to one another for a total of 262 months. The court also sentenced the defendant to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Ritz commended the hard work of the FBI and the Memphis Police Department in bringing Freeman to justice. “These federal robbery crimes were very serious, and this defendant will justifiably serve a significant period of time in federal prison. Our office appreciates the hard work of the FBI and the MPD in bringing this defendant to justice.”

The Memphis Police Department echoed Ritz’s sentiments, praising the collaborative efforts that led to Freeman’s arrest and conviction. “The Memphis Police Department has a strong working relationship with United States Attorney Kevin Ritz’s office and the Safe Streets Task Force, as is evident in the recent arrest and charges against Mr. Rodercus Freeman. The Memphis Police Department is committed to continuing these collaborative investigations to create a safe place for all,” said Chief of Police Cerelyn J. Davis.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force and the Memphis Police Department. United States Attorney Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Tony Arvin and Scott Smith, who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.

For more information, please contact Public Information Officer Cherri Green at (901) 544-4231 or cherri.green@usoj.gov. Follow @WDTNNews on Twitter for office news and updates.

Freeman’s lengthy sentence serves as a reminder of the consequences of committing serious crimes in the city of Memphis.

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