COLUMBIA, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated that Darrell Eugene Spires, age 56, of Augusta, Georgia, pled guilty yesterday to robbing the Security Federal Bank in Langley, South Carolina, on October 10, 2007.

The guilty plea was taken by United States District Court Judge Margaret B. Seymour, who will sentence Spires at a later date.  He faces a maximum 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine, to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release.

Prosecutors presented evidence that Spires entered the bank and told a teller that he wanted to make a withdrawal. When the teller asked him to fill out a withdrawal slip, Spires demanded money and vaulted the teller counter.  Spires removed $3,100.00 in cash from a teller drawer, jumped back over the counter, and ran out of the bank to his car.

Spires was observed driving away from the robbery by David P. Smith, the police chief of neighboring Burnettown, and Chief Smith gave chase.  Spires sped away on Highway 1 toward Augusta, Georgia, at speeds in excess of 80 mph. During the chase, Spires attempted to force Chief Smith off the road as he attempted to pull alongside Spire’s car.

Chief Smith continued the chase into Augusta, where Richmond County deputies joined the pursuit.  Spires was apprehended after he parked his car in the driveway of his own home. The $3,100.00 in currency, still wrapped in Security Federal banding with the teller’s initials, was recovered from the car.

Mr. Wilkins stated that the case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau Investigation, the Aiken County Sheriff’s Department, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Department.   Assistant United States Attorney Robert C. Jendron, Jr., is assigned to prosecute the case.

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