Two Sentenced in Armed Bank Robbery

Madison, Wisconsin—Erik C. Peterson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Lisa Ramos, 30, and Troy Thomas, 35, both from Rockford, Ill., were sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Barbara B. Crabb in U.S. District Court in Madison for their involvement in the armed bank robbery of the Mid America Bank in Footville, Wis., on November 9, 2007.

Judge Crabb sentenced Ramos to twelve months and one day in prison, followed by a one-year term of supervised release. Thomas received a sentence of 174 months in prison, followed by a five-year term of supervised release. Judge Crabb also ordered both defendants to pay restitution to the bank in the amount of $950, which represented the stolen proceeds that were never recovered by the police.

On February 21, 2008, Ramos pleaded guilty to one count of misprision of a felony for concealing from law enforcement her knowledge of the plan to rob the Mid America Bank by Troy Thomas and others. On February 13, 2008, Thomas pleaded guilty to armed bank robbery and possessing a sawed-off shotgun during a crime of violence.

Thomas robbed the bank along with co-defendants Matthew Evans, Donald Thompson, Curtis Seaberry, and Skye Archambault. These five co-defendants left Ramos at a hotel room in Rockford and drove to Footville the morning of the bank robbery in Thomas' Mercury Grand Marquis. They first cased the bank, then drove to Beloit. While in Beloit, Thomas stole a Lexus to use during the bank robbery itself. Archambault parked the Mercury at a rendevous point a mile from the bank.

Thomas, Evans, Thompson, and Seaberry entered the bank brandishing three guns and wearing masks. They ordered the tellers and customers to get down on the floor. After robbing the bank, the four robbers fled in the Lexus. The robbers went to the rendevous point with Archambault where they transferred the guns, masks, gloves, and robbery proceeds into the Mercury. They left the Lexus abandoned on the side of the road. A truck driver witnessed the vehicle switch and had his dispatcher call 911 to report this suspicious activity.

A Rock County Sheriff's deputy ordered the Mercury to pull over on Highway 81. As the vehicle pulled over, Seaberry and Evans fled on foot. Seaberry was found nearby, but Evans evaded capture. Thomas, Archambault and Thompson stayed in the Mercury and took off in the opposite direction. The deputy stayed in pursuit with speeds reaching in excess of 100 miles per hour. As they neared Rockford on Meridian Road, the Mercury ran out of gas. All three suspects were taken into custody by the deputy and detectives from the Winnebago County (Illinois) Sheriff's Department. Authorities arrested Evans four days later at his girlfriend's home.

Thomas, Thompson, Seaberry, and Archambault all pleaded guilty to armed bank robbery and possessing firearms during a crime of violence. Evans was convicted of armed bank robbery, conspiracy to commit armed bank robbery and possessing firearms during a crime of violence following a three-day jury trial in U.S. District Court in March.

At today's sentencing for Ramos, Judge Crabb noted that unlike many defendants that come before her with documented instances of childhood abuse, Ms. Ramos' case stood out as extraordinary. For this reason, the judge granted the defendant's motion for a downward variance and reduced Ramos' sentence by nine months.

At Thomas' sentencing, Judge Crabb noted that Thomas appeared to be the victim of parental abuse and was someone who had never received an adequate amount of nurturing and love from his parents. Judge Crabb told Thomas she believed he was a dangerous man and that she did not think any amount of professional therapy would help him. She thought that his lack of empathy towards others, and his dangerous nature, were "embedded in him" based upon his "horrible childhood experiences."

The charges against these defendants were the result of an investigation conducted by the Rock County Sheriff's Department, Orfordville Police Department, Beloit Police Department, Winnebago County Sheriff's Department, Rockford Police Department, and the Rockford and Madison offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Graber.

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