x
Breaking News
More () »

Rock Island man sentenced to life in prison for bank robberies in Viola and Sherrard

A Rock Island man was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of two local bank robberies.
DeAngelo Dixon

A Rock Island man was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of two local bank robberies.

According to U.S. Attorney Jim Lewis, 28-year-old Deangelo Dixon will spend his life in prison without the possibility of parole.

On Thursday, October 2, 2014, U.S. District Judge Sara Darrow found that since Dixon was a repeat offender, based on “two prior robbery convictions,” a life sentence was mandated.

A statement from the U.S. Attorney’s office said that in March of 2014, Dixon was convicted of two armed robberies: one at Union Federal Savings & Loan in Viola, Illinois, and another at the 1st Community Bank in Sherrard, Illinois.

Evidence at trial showed that Dixon had entered the Union Federal Savings & Loan in Viola, on November 8, 2012 dressed in black with a mask, according to the statement.

“He grabbed a teller by the collar, put a round hard object against her neck, demanded money, and threatened to shoot the teller,” according to the statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The statement indicated that Dixon continuously made threats to get the tellers to open the bank vault. He got away with more than $30,000.  At the time of this crime, Dixon was on parole for aggravated robbery.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said that on December 10, 2012, Dixon went into the 1st Community Bank in Sherrard, again dressed in black and wearing a mask.

“He pointed a firearm-like object, which was later determined to be a butane lighter, at tellers, announcing that he wanted money or he would shoot,” according to the statement.

Dixon was yelling threats at a teller, grabbed her and forced her to give him more than $5,000 that was in the drawer, said the statement.

“As Dixon fled the bank and approached his getaway car, he encountered another teller who had run from the bank as the robbery was underway,” the statement said. “Dixon grabbed the teller, tried to force her into his car, and when he was unsuccessful, punched her in the face.”

A following investigation linked Dixon to the robberies.

As a bulletin from the FBI circulated among police departments, a Rock Island Police officer saw it and “recognized Dixon’s signature robbery technique and his car.” Investigators also found “physical evidence” that linked Dixon to the robberies.

Before You Leave, Check This Out