Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown announced Friday that seven individuals have been indicted in connection with a violent yearlong crime spree targeting bank customers across five counties. The suspects allegedly robbed or attempted to rob 34 people after they withdrew cash from financial institutions, stealing more than $155,000 through a predatory tactic known as “bank jugging.”
The indictments include multiple felony charges including participation in a criminal gang, attempted murder, armed carjacking, armed robbery, assault, and firearms violations, according to Fox Baltimore .
Sophisticated Criminal Operation Targeted Bank Customers
Investigators revealed the defendants belonged to two separate but similarly operated criminal organizations that systematically stalked victims after they made substantial cash withdrawals. The first group allegedly committed 20 robberies between August 2023 and January 2024, while a second group emerged in May 2024 and continued the crime pattern through July.
The robberies occurred across Anne Arundel, Prince George’s, Montgomery, Charles, and Howard counties, with victims primarily targeted after visiting institutions such as Navy Federal Credit Union, Bank of America, Capital One, and Wells Fargo.
Escalating Violence Defined Criminal Operation
Authorities noted that what distinguished these groups was their willingness to employ extreme violence to ensure compliance from victims. In multiple instances, suspects pointed firearms directly at victims’ heads while demanding money…