Theft Attorney in Chicago, Illinois
Gal Discusses Bank Robbery Cases
Gal Discusses Bank Robbery Cases
More In This Category
View Transcript
Bank robberies are very difficult crimes to begin with. Because usually when you have a bank robbery, banks, as you know, are federally insured. And for that reason they have plenty of cameras inside and outside of the bank. Bank robbers sometimes believe that if they wear masks, they can get away with it.
Recently there has been a spree of cell phone robberies or cell phone store robberies, because cell phones are very valuable now. And you will hear a lot more cell phone store robberies than bank robberies recently. And that’s a trend. However, cell phone stores, because they get robbed a lot, also have cameras. They have cameras in the back, they have cameras in the front. And so it is very difficult to challenge a case where the federal prosecutor has the cameras and the view of your client. In addition, in bank robberies a lot of times they know what markings are on their money and they know how to recover that money.
And the penalties are tremendous, especially if you carry a gun or any type of a weapon. A person is facing very, very long period of incarceration when they commit bank robberies. And again, because every set of facts is different, we try to challenge the government assertion that your client was involved or the client – let’s say the client was outside the bank and not inside the bank, and they accused the client of being part of a conspiracy along with the people that went in the bank. They have to show, and we will challenge the fact that they were actually working in concert together or had a conspiracy going. There are many other ways to challenge a prosecutor. And every case depends on its own set of facts.
Chicago, IL criminal defense attorney Gal Pissetzky shares his experience involving bank robbery cases. Bank robberies pose considerable challenges due to the extensive security measures in place. Banks, being federally insured, are equipped with numerous cameras both inside and outside their premises. Despite this, some bank robbers mistakenly believe that wearing masks will enable them to evade identification.
A recent trend has emerged in the form of a surge in cell phone store robberies, driven by the increasing value of cell phones. These incidents have surpassed the frequency of bank robberies. However, cell phone stores, being frequent targets, also maintain comprehensive camera systems, both in the front and back areas. Consequently, challenging a case becomes arduous when federal prosecutors possess incriminating footage and a clear view of the accused.
In addition, bank robberies involve unique challenges, such as the banks’ familiarity with the markings on their currency and their ability to trace and recover stolen money. The legal penalties for bank robberies are severe, particularly if the perpetrator is armed. Carrying a gun or any weapon during a bank robbery can lead to lengthy incarceration.
Given the diverse nature of each case, defense strategies vary. Challenges may include contesting the government’s assertion of the client’s involvement, questioning whether the client was inside or outside the bank during the incident, or disputing allegations of conspiracy. Each case hinges on its specific set of facts, and defense attorneys aim to scrutinize and challenge the prosecution’s claims through various legal avenues.
