Ft. Myers Bank Robber Sentenced to Two Consecutive Life Sentences

February 19, 2010 - FORT MYERS, FL—U.S. Attorney A. Brian Albritton announces that U.S. District Judge John E. Steele yesterday sentenced Mark Everett Sharp (age 53, of West Palm Beach) to two consecutive life sentences in federal prison for armed bank robbery, carjacking, and using a firearm during a crime of violence. Sharp had pleaded guilty on October 14, 2009.

According to court documents, on October 6, 2008, Sharp robbed the Regions Bank at 1507 Cape Coral Parkway, Cape Coral. Sharp entered the bank carrying a silver revolver and forced a customer and a teller to the floor. He then demanded money from another teller and, when she did not move fast enough for him, asked her if she wanted him to “start shooting.” After taking the money, Sharp told the tellers to give him their car keys. He then held his gun to the bank manager’s head and forced her out of the bank and outside to her car. When they reached the manager’s car, Sharp told her to open it, then pushed her down into the seat and told her to start it. The manager started the car but then ducked under the gun and ran. Sharp fled in the manager’s car.

On December 8, 2008, Sharp robbed a second bank, the PNC Bank located at

15465 Tamiami Trail North, Naples, Florida. Sharp walked up to the teller counter, brandished a gun, and took money. He then took one of the bank tellers into the vault, ordering everyone else in the bank to get down on the floor. Once inside the vault, Sharp made the teller help him fill two black bags with cash, telling her to "do what I say so you won't get hurt.” Sharp then took a bank employee’s car keys and fled, with the money, in the employee’s car.

On April 27, 2009, Sharp robbed yet another bank, the Florida Community Bank located at 205 Del Prado Avenue, Cape Coral, Florida. Sharp displayed a handgun and stole money from tellers and the vault. He then again took a teller’s car keys, stole her car, and fled, abandoning the car a short distance away.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation(FBI) Southwest Florida Violent Crimes Task Force, the Collier County Sheriff's Office, the Cape Coral Police Department, the Lee County Sheriff's Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey F. Michelland.