Source: United States Attorneys General
Headline: Durant Man Sentenced To 40 Months For Bank Robbery
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Graham Allen Helms, age 30, of Durant, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 40 months imprisonment, and 3 years supervised release for two counts of Bank Robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(a). Helms was ordered to pay $6,000.00 in restitution. The charges arose from an investigation by the Ardmore Police Department, the Coal County Sherriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Information alleged that on or about July 24, 2017, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant, by force, violence and intimidation did take from the person and presence of another, money belonging to and in the care, custody, control, management and possession of IBC Bank, located in Ardmore, Oklahoma, a bank whose deposits were then insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
The Information further alleged that on or about August 1, 2017, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant, by force, violence and intimidation did take from the person and presence of another, money belonging to and in the care, custody, control, management and possession of Shamrock Bank, located in Coalgate, Oklahoma, a bank whose deposits were then insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
United States Attorney Brian J. Kuester said, “Over the course of one week the defendant committed two bank robberies, each time by using a note to threaten violence. Although he had no prior criminal history, these offenses were serious in nature and the defendant is being held accountable for his criminal conduct. It is our hope that his time in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons and the three year period that he is supervised by the United States Probation Office following his imprisonment will serve to protect the public and also deter Mr. Helms from committing additional criminal acts.” Kuester added, “I would like to commend the Ardmore Police Department, the Coal County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI for their investigation and swift apprehension of the defendant following the robberies.”
The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Chris Wilson represented the United States. The defendant will remain in custody pending transportation to the designated federal facility at which the non-paroleable sentence will be served.