Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Troy Gross, Sr., age 44, of Baltimore, today to 53 years 10 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release for bank robbery and brandishing a gun during a crime of violence, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.  Judge Bennett enhanced Gross’ sentence upon finding that he is a career offender based on three convictions for robbery with a deadly weapon.  Judge Bennett also ordered Gross to pay restitution of $11,520.

Gross was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm on November 28, 2006.  At the time of the robberies he was on bond and was scheduled to begin serving his sentence on the gun charge on February 20, 2007.  The sentence imposed today by Judge Bennett is consecutive to the 87 month sentence for the gun charge.

According to his plea agreement, Gross entered the Wachovia Bank at 1726 East Northern Parkway, Baltimore on January 30, 2007 and pointed a semi-automatic Walther P38 handgun at customers and employees, threatening to shoot if not given money. Gross took money from all the bank tellers totaling $11,520 and left the bank.

On February 20, 2007, Gross entered the same bank.  He grabbed a 67 year old female customer and pointed the gun to her head, stating that it was a robbery.  The customer fainted.  Immediately inside the bank door was a Baltimore city police officer who heard Gross say “robbery” and saw the gun.  The police officer shot at Gross, striking him several times.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Baltimore City Police Department, Homicide Division,  for their investigative work.  Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bonnie S. Greenberg and Tonya Kelly Kowitz, who  prosecuted the case.

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