Zachary T. Lee Acting United States Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia
The third individual involved in the June 2023 robbery of Carter Bank and Trust on Hershberger Road, Roanoke, has pled guilty. Tishawn Simpson, aged 25 and a resident of Roanoke, admitted to one count of bank robbery in U.S. District Court.
Court documents reveal that on June 22, 2023, Simpson and Demonte Belcher entered the bank masked, with one carrying a blue bag and the other a green plastic bag. They presented a note demanding $50,000 under threat of violence. The robbers left with $8,659 but abandoned the demand note at the scene. DNA analysis linked Simpson to a mask recovered by law enforcement.
Ramel Abrams did not enter the bank but was implicated through fingerprints on the demand note and clothing found in his apartment. His phone records also placed him near the bank during the crime.
All three have pled guilty. Belcher received a sentence of 37 months in federal prison in August, while Abrams was sentenced to 30 months in December. Simpson's sentencing is scheduled for May.
Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee announced this development alongside Stanley M. Meador from the FBI’s Richmond Division and Scott Booth from Roanoke City Police Department.
The investigation is being conducted by multiple agencies including Roanoke City Police Department and FBI with support from various local law enforcement entities.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Keith Parrella and M. Coleman Adams are leading prosecution efforts.
