Belvidere Man Pleads Guilty to Robbery of Harris Bank in Belvidere

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ROCKFORD, IL—A Belvidere man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to bank robbery. The defendant, Carlos Harris, 39, of Belvidere, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Philip G. Reinhard to the robbery of Harris N.A., 401 Southtowne Drive, Belvidere, Illinois, on Mar. 26, 2011.

According to the written plea agreement, the defendant entered Harris bank on Mar. 26th, wearing a tan Carhartt jacket, approached a teller at the counter, and slid a note with both hands to the teller demanding $50s and $20s and stating he had a gun. Harris then placed his right hand in his jacket pocket and moved it to the top of the teller counter, still in his pocket. After the teller removed cash from the drawer and placed it on the counter, Harris grabbed the cash, put it in his pockets and left the bank.

Harris has been in federal custody since his arrest later that same day. Sentencing has been set for February 23, 2012, at 9:00 a.m.

Bank robbery carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and full restitution. The court must impose a reasonable sentence guided by the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.

The guilty plea was announced by Patrick J. Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert D. Grant, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Belvidere Police Department assisted in the investigation and arrest of Harris.

The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott R. Paccagnini.

Belvidere Man Indicted in Federal Court for Robbery of Harris Bank in Belvidere

ROCKFORD—PATRICK J. FITZGERALD, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; ROBERT D. GRANT, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; MICHELLE COURIER, Boone County State’s Attorney; and JAN NOBLE, Chief of the Belvidere Police Department, today made the following announcement:

A federal grand jury in Rockford today indicted CARLOS A. HARRIS, 39, of Belvidere, Illinois, on a federal bank robbery charge for the March 26, 2011, bank robbery of Harris N.A., 401 Southtowne Drive, Belvidere, Illinois. According to the criminal complaint previously filed, at about 12:14 p.m. on March 26, 2011, Harris entered the bank and slid a note to a teller demanding $50s and $20s and stating he had a gun. The teller grabbed all the cash that was "strapped" (pre-counted money with a band around it denoting the amount and denomination of the bills) and placed the money on the counter. Harris grabbed the money and left the bank.

Harris was arrested on March 26, 2011 and initially charged in state court. He is presently in federal custody pending trial. If convicted, Harris faces a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release following imprisonment, and full restitution. The actual sentence would be determined by the United States District Court, guided by the United States Sentencing Guidelines.

The case was investigated by the Rockford Office of the FBI and the Belvidere, Illinois Police Department. The case is being prosecuted in federal court by Assistant United States Attorney SCOTT R. PACCAGNINI.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial at which time the government has the burden of proving guilt of the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt.