Justice on Tuesday came in the form of a 57-month sentence (four years and nine months) for a mentally challenged man who previously had pleaded guilty to one of the worst bank robberies in the history of bank robberies.
U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark sentenced Michael C. Loyd, 31, for the 11:30 a.m. July 20, 2022, robbery of the Bank of America, 633 W. Kearney St.
He was quickly caught, confessed and told police that earlier that day he had gotten into an argument with his girlfriend and as a result he drove off — in his roommate's pickup — to “prove a point.”
That point, apparently, was to rob a bank. He randomly selected the Bank of America on Kearney.
Loyd entered the bank wearing one orange shoe — on his right foot. He wore a T-shirt that exposed the many tattoos on his arms, making himself more easily identifiable.
(Court records do not indicate if he wore a mask.)
Loyd handed the teller a note written with a highlighter. It said: “Give Me Your Money Now. Don't Say Anything. I Have A Partner Outside.”
He wrote it on the back of his own birth certificate.
(Nothing in documents and nothing said in court Tuesday offered an explanation as to why he had his birth certificate readily available.)
Defendant had nothing to say to judge
In addition, on one of his ankles was a GPS monitor that had been ordered by a different judge for a different offense.
That monitor would later show what law enforcement already knew — Loyd was at the bank at the time of the robbery.
As Loyd drove away, according to court documents, he became frightened when he saw police cars with lights on racing toward the bank.
“Loyd got scared and started throwing money out the window,” according to court documents. “Loyd was not sure on how much of the money he had disposed of because he was unsure on how much money the bank gave him.”
It was $754. At sentencing, he was ordered to pay that amount back to Bank of America — at least $25 quarterly while in prison and at least $100 quarterly after release.
Loyd will serve three years under supervised release after he serves his time.
Loyd was given the opportunity to speak in court Tuesday, but he declined. An aunt and uncle were present to show support.
Judge and lawyers review sentencing guidelines
Federal judges review sentencing guidelines while arriving at a decision they believe, in legal terms, is “sufficient but not greater than necessary.”
In Loyd's case, he was given credit in sentencing calculations for quickly admitting to the crime, taking responsibility and avoiding a trial.
But he received “enhancements” for a criminal history that includes theft, trespass, endangering the welfare of a child, shoplifting, felony possession of a controlled substance and resisting arrest and fleeing.
Prosecutors suggested the low end of the guidelines — 57 months, which is what the judge did.
Steven Berry, Loyd's defense lawyer, suggested 36 to 48 months, saying Loyd needed help for mental health and substance abuse issues and that a sentence longer than 48 months would serve no useful purpose.
Berry also said it made no sense to him that robbing a bank would be an enhancement, according to the guidelines, while robbing a “mom-and-pop” store is not.
Concern for public; defendant twice before fled at speeds over 100 mph
Berry said Loyd had a difficult upbringing.
“He had an absent father due to long-term incarceration,” Berry said.
While it's true, said prosecutor Casey Clark, that the bank robbery “was not well thought” out and “impulsive,” the fact of the matter is that Loyd continues to commit crimes and puts the community at risk.
Judge Ketchmark took note that Loyd has been given multiple opportunities to straighten out his life when placed on parole. Even with a long history of charges and convictions, she said, the longest Loyd had ever been incarcerated was six months.
She was particularly concerned that twice in the past Loyd fled from law enforcement and reached speeds of over 100 mph while trying to escape. (He did not flee in the bank robbery case.)
The judge told Loyd: “Your behavior is unacceptable.”
If it doesn't change, she added, “You are either going to die on the streets or live a life in prison.”
