Two Plead Guilty to Bank Robbery

May 21, 2010 - CHARLESTON, WV—Two Chapmanville, West Virginia men pleaded guilty yesterday for their roles in robbing a Logan County bank last year. Brian Lee Corbett, 34, pleaded guilty to aggravated bank robbery, and Jason Williamson, 26, pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact to the robbery.

According to court documents, on December 8, 2009, Corbett entered the Boone County Bank branch located in Logan County, West Virginia. Wearing a mask, Corbett pointed two loaded handguns at the tellers and demanded money. The investigation revealed that prior to the robbery, Corbett had asked Williamson to drive a borrowed sedan and park the vehicle approximately three blocks from the bank. Corbett then traveled to the bank with another person in a pickup truck. At this time, however, Corbett did not divulge to Williamson or the other driver his plan to rob the bank. Corbett fled the bank on foot with approximately $33,000 he had obtained from the tellers, traveled to the location where Williamson was waiting and directed Williamson to drive away. The duo then abandoned the vehicle and concealed the mask and some of the clothing worn during the robbery.

Williamson, who by this time knew that Corbett had robbed the bank, advised Corbett to leave the area to avoid apprehension. The two then agreed to create a false alibi to account for Corbett's whereabouts at the time of the bank robbery. Corbett and Williamson also convinced another person to tell the false alibi story to law enforcement. When questioned by law enforcement later the same day, Williamson and the other individual provided to law enforcement the false alibi upon which they all had agreed.

Both men are scheduled to be sentenced on September 16, 2010, before United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston. Corbett faces up to 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Williamson faces 21 months in prison and three years of supervised release.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, West Virginia State Police, Logan County Sheriff's Department and Logan Police Department jointly conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Steven R. Ruby is handling the prosecution.