Gainesville man sentenced in federal bank robbery case

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Patrick Shane Johnson, 51, has been sentenced to 46 months in prison after previously pleading guilty in federal court to bank robbery and larceny. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said, “Thanks to the lightning-fast response of the Gainesville Police Department, this violent criminal was quickly caught, and now my office has ensured he will be kept off our streets for several years. This is yet another successful prosecution under Operation Take Back America, which launched under the direction of President Donald J. Trump to devote the full might of the Department of Justice toward removing violent criminals like this defendant from our communities to deliver the safe streets our citizens deserve.”

Original arrest

On August 27, a Gainesville Police Department officer responded to a report of a robbery at Wells Fargo Bank (3505 SW Archer Road). The victims said a white male wearing a hospital gown entered the bank and gave a note to two different bank tellers, ordering them to give him money.

One of the victims said the suspect said he would “blow a hole in your head” if he was not given the money. The bank gave the suspect about $1,449 in cash, and he left the area in a red Hyundai.

A traffic stop was conducted on the Hyundai on SW Archer Road within minutes of the robbery, and Johnson, who was wearing a hospital gown, had about $1,258 in cash. No firearm was found on his person or in the car.

According to GPD Public Information Officer Art Forgey, the arresting officer did not know why Johnson was wearing a hospital gown; his booking photo is in a hospital bed because he was taken to the hospital for medical clearance before being transported to the jail.

At the time of the incident, Johnson was on probation out of Marion County for robbery and cocaine possession charges.

GPD and the FBI investigated the case

“A violent threat inside a bank is every employee’s nightmare, but because of the immediate response by our officers, this dangerous offender was taken back into custody within moments,” said Chief Moya, Gainesville Police Department.

“The sentencing of this repeat offender reflects the seriousness of recidivism among violent offenders and the danger it poses to the public,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley. “We will continue working closely with our partners to pursue repeat offenders and protect our communities.”

The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Gainesville Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Christie S. Utt prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.