Let’s remember when some soldiers at Fort Lewis robbed a Bank of America, on this day in 2006 (August 7)
In this case, I have no idea who to support in this. On the one hand, you have Bank of America, and on the other, there’s lawless military guys.
HistoryLink’s Daryl C. McClary writes:
On August 7, 2006, four men brandishing weapons rob the Bank of America branch in South Tacoma of $54,011. An alert bystander sees the bandits exit from an automobile wearing balaclavas and carrying handguns and assault rifles, then return three minutes later with duffel bags, jump back into the vehicle, and speed away. Believing it to be a bank heist, the witness copies down the license plate and gives it to the Tacoma police. The following morning, FBI agents will find the getaway car parked inside a fenced compound at Fort Lewis, and will quickly identify the soldiers involved in the bank robbery. The agents will serve a search warrant on the suspects’ quarters and recover weapons, clothing, and $21,000 in cash. Five soldiers and two Canadian citizens will be charged with involvement in the crime. All will eventually plead guilty and be sent to federal prison. The robbery is one of the most audacious and dangerous bank heists ever committed in Washington state.
How did they get caught?
An alert bystander, who had been watching the drama unfold, copied down the Colorado license plate on the getaway car and reported it to police officers responding to the silent alarm. By happenstance, the bank robbers had removed the rear license plate from the car, but neglected to remove the one from the front bumper.
One more detail:
During an interview on September 28, Scott Byrne told FBI agents that he helped (Luke) Sommer plan the heist, but declined to take part in the operation. He said Sommer intended to use money from bank robberies to start a outlaw motorcycle gang in Kelowna and challenge the Hell’s Angels for control of drug trafficking and other lucrative criminal enterprises in British Columbia. Sommer had originally planned to rob Chip’s Casino in Lakewood, but only Byrne was old enough to enter the gambling establishment. Gambling casinos are considered “hard targets” and Byrne recommended Sommer and his gang rob banks instead.
Army strong.
Read the whole thing here (seriously, it’s amazing):
