The United States Attorney's Office

Eastern District of Virginia

Alexandria - Richmond - Newport News - Norfolk USAO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 10, 2007

Jim Rybicki  Further Information Contact:
Public Information Officer  Margaret Jahn
Phone (703) 842-4050
Fax: (703) 549-5202
  Phone: (757) 591-4000
Email: usavae.press@usdoj.gov

Web Address: www.usdoj.gov/usao/vae

(Newport News, VA) – Scott Thompson, Age 40, of Greensboro, North Carolina, was sentenced today to life in prison after pleading guilty to federal bank robbery offenses. Thompson was sentenced to life based upon his prior criminal history involving violent felonies. Chuck Rosenberg, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after United States district Judge Jerome B. Friedman sentenced Thompson today.

According to court documents, Thompson robbed the Wachovia Bank on Richmond Road, in Williamsburg, Virginia, on February 3, 2006. During the robbery Thompson demanded that the customers lie on the floor while the tellers were made to fill a bag with money. Thompson wore a fake beard and hat while committing the robbery. Following the robbery, Thompson was involved in a high speed chase with police units from the City of Williamsburg, ending with Thompson crashing his car into a tree and being apprehended. At the time of the robbery, Thompson was on probation in Greensboro, North Carolina, following a bank robbery conviction in Alaska.

The investigation was conducted by the Williamsburg Police Department, with the support of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Assistant United States Attorney Eric M. Hurt.