United States Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan announced today, May 14, 2008, that Wallace S. Winstead of Irvington, New Jersey and Lavelle Fountain of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh of bank robbery and firearm charges.

The five-count indictment named Winstead, age 31, and Fountain, age 32, as defendants.

According to the indictment presented to the court, on  April 18, 2008, Winstead and Fountain, each armed with a 9mm pistol, entered the National City Bank at 101 Brilliant Avenue, Aspinwall, Pennsylvania and took a total of $9,207.00.  Because Winstead and Fountain have previously been convicted of offenses punishable by a term of imprisonment in excess of one year, federal law prohibits them from possessing a firearm.

Assistant United States Attorney Constance M. Bowden, who presented the case to the grand jury, indicated that the law provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years, and a maximum total sentence of life in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both.  Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.  Both defendants are presently detained.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Aspinwall Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.