A federal jury has found a 27-year-old Wilmington man guilty of robbing two banks in August 2010.
United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced Wednesday that a jury had convicted Reggie Andre Beckton on two counts of bank robbery. Senior United States District Judge W. Earl Britt presided over the trial.
According to a press release from Walker’s office, evidence presented at the trial showed that Beckton had robbed two banks: first, the Centura Bank in the 5100 block of Market Street in Wilmington on Aug. 17, 2010. After entering the bank Beckton approached a teller window, handed the teller a bag and instructed the employee to put money or the bag or be shot.
Then, on Aug. 26, Beckton robbed the New Bridge Bank, in the 700 block of South College Road, also in Wilmington. He presented a note to the teller that said, “do what I tell you to do or die. Period. I have two guns and I will shoot you in the face if you act stupid or obvious….”
In both instances, the teller complied and Beckton netted less than $3,000 total, according to Walker’s office.
Beckton’s co-defendant, who was involved in the second robbery, testified against him at trial. Bank employees at both banks picked Beckton out of lineups conducted after the robberies.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Wilmington Police Department investigated the case; Assistant United States Attorneys S. Katherine Burnette and Toby Lathan prosecuted it.
Sentencing information was not immediately available.
