The Oak Park man accused of robbing a River Forest bank last October pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court at a hearing on Wednesday.
Derrick D. Roland, 44, pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery by force or violence after stealing approximately $1,260 from a TCF Bank branch inside Jewel-Osco, 7525 Lake St., on October 18.
Roland entered the bank area at 9:27 a.m. and handed the teller a plastic shopping bag and a yellow handwritten note, according to court documents.
“If you look up, I will shoot,” the note read. “If you press the panic button, I will shoot. If you say anything, I will shoot. I need $4,500 put in this bag, and you have 10 sec. to do it, or I will shoot.”
The teller began to place money into the bag, but Roland stopped her and whispered, “that’s enough,” after noticing a bank supervisor entering through a side door. Roland then took the bag of money and left. The teller immediately pressed the silent alarm and alerted the supervisor after the robber’s exit. Police responded shortly after.
Within approximately five minutes of the crime, police located Roland about two blocks from the bank on Lathrop Avenue in River Forest. The threatening yellow note and the $1,260 were found on his person, and he was taken into custody. No gun or weapon of any kind, according to court documents, was recovered.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Madeleine Sullivan Murphy said that the low bond amount and the leniency of the conditions of Roland’s release were due to his “very strong ties to the community.”
“He has family living here and has had steady employment,” Murphy said.
Roland originally pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on Feb. 11, but changed it to a guilty plea at Wednesday’s hearing before U.S. District Judge Andrea Wood.
Roland faces between 37 and 46 months in prison, according to federal sentencing guidelines when he is sentenced at 10 a.m. on Oct. 23.
He remains free on a $50,000 bond.
