Maryland Man Charged With Two Armed Bank Robberies

HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Jacob Charles LaFrance, age 28, Thurmont, Maryland, was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 27, 2018, for the armed robbery of two banks.

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, LaFrance is alleged to have committed the armed robberies of the PNC Bank in Fairfield, Adams County, on April 25, 2018 and the M&T Bank in Blue Ridge Summit, Franklin County, on May 3, 2018.  In each robbery, LaFrance is alleged to have taken money in the custody and control of the bank and to have put lives in jeopardy through the use of a dangerous weapon.

The charges stem from an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Frederick County (MD) Sheriff’s Office, the Carroll Valley Borough Police, and the Washington Township Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney James T. Clancy is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty for armed bank robbery is 25 years in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.  Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs.  For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.