Federal Bank Robbery Defense in Northern Virginia

Former Prosecutors & Public Defenders Defending 18 U.S.C. 2113 Charges

A federal bank robbery charge is one of the most serious offenses prosecuted in Northern Virginia federal courts. Most banks and credit unions hold FDIC-insured deposits, which means the FBI investigates these cases and federal prosecutors bring the charges. The consequences are severe, and the Eastern District of Virginia’s compressed schedule leaves little time to build a defense. King, Campbell, Poretz, and Mitchell represents individuals under investigation or charged under 18 U.S.C. 2113 in Fairfax, Arlington, Prince William, and Loudoun Counties and across Northern Virginia. Our criminal defense attorneys include former prosecutors and former public defenders, and we’ve been serving Virginia communities since 2008.

If you or someone you know is facing a federal bank robbery charge or believes they are under investigation, contact King, Campbell, Poretz, and Mitchell now for a confidential consultation: (703) 468-8557.

What 18 U.S.C. 2113 Actually Covers

The federal bank robbery statute is broader than its name suggests. Section 2113(a) criminalizes two distinct acts: taking or attempting to take property from a federally insured bank, credit union, or savings and loan association by force, violence, or intimidation, and entering or attempting to enter such an institution with intent to commit any felony or larceny inside it. Both carry the same 20-year maximum sentence.

The statute also reaches conduct that doesn’t involve confrontation. Section 2113(b) covers bank larceny, the taking of bank property without force or intimidation. The penalty depends on value: up to 10 years when the property exceeds $1,000, and up to one year when it doesn’t. Section 2113(c) separately criminalizes knowingly receiving, possessing, or disposing of property taken in a bank larceny. To secure a conviction on the robbery count, the government must prove the taking of property, the institution’s federally insured status, and that force, violence, or intimidation was used.

Penalties Under the Federal Bank Robbery Statute

The penalty structure under 18 U.S.C. 2113 escalates with the facts alleged:

• Robbery or unlawful entry with felonious intent: Up to 20 years in federal prison
• Assault or use of a dangerous weapon during the offense: Up to 25 years
• Death resulting from the offense or flight: Mandatory minimum of 10 years up to life imprisonment or the death penalty
• Bank larceny (property over $1,000): Up to 10 years
• Bank larceny ($1,000 or less): Up to 1 year

These statutory maximums work alongside the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which use criminal history and offense characteristics to produce a recommended sentencing range. Judges aren’t bound by that range, but it shapes nearly every federal sentencing outcome.

Federal Defense Capability That Matters Here

Our attorneys bring more than 100 combined years of professional experience and have litigated in Virginia state courts, federal district courts, Virginia appellate courts, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and before the United States Supreme Court. Former-prosecutor attorneys on our team understand how federal cases are built. Former public defenders understand how to challenge them.

That dual perspective matters when the government has FBI investigative resources, surveillance evidence, and experienced AUSA trial counsel working against you. Our attorneys collaborate across cases, so knowledge gained in one federal proceeding informs the preparation of another. Clients work directly with their representing attorney throughout. In July 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia granted a motion for compassionate release on behalf of a firm client, resulting in that client’s release from the Federal Bureau of Prisons. That result reflects real Eastern District of Virginia courtroom experience. Our attorneys hold AV Preeminent® ratings from Martindale-Hubbell and are recognized in Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America.

The Eastern District of Virginia’s Rocket Docket

Federal bank robbery cases in Northern Virginia are heard in the Alexandria Division of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, which covers Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William Counties, as well as the City of Manassas. The Eastern District is nationally known as the Rocket Docket. Cases move from filing toward trial in under a year, and the court grants few continuances.

That pace compresses the time available to investigate facts, file pretrial motions, negotiate with prosecutors, and prepare for trial. An attorney who isn’t already familiar with how the Alexandria Division operates may spend time learning the court’s rules and expectations rather than building your defense. If you’re under investigation or have been charged, the timeline is already running.