BANK ROBBERY GETAWAY DRIVER SENTENCED TO NEARLY MAXIMUM OF 25 YEARS IMPRISONMENT

A man who planned several bank robberies and served as the getaway driver has been sentenced to nearly 25 years imprisonment, which is the maximum penalty allowed by statute for such an offense.

James David Newsome, 37, who at the time of the bank robbery lived in Long Beach, California, was sentenced Monday afternoon to 294 months - 24½ years - in prison by United States Judge Alicemarie H. Stotler in federal court in Santa Ana. Newsome's sentence was increased because he was a career offender under the federal sentencing guidelines.

Newsome was found guilty by a federal jury after a three-day trial in October 2002. The jury found Newsome guilty of the single charge against him, which was aiding and abetting armed bank robbery by serving as the getaway driver for the robbery of a Washington Mutual Bank branch in Garden Grove on July 20, 2001. The bank was robbed of approximately $7,109, some of which was recovered.

The evidence at trial showed that Newsome planned the bank robbery, recruited the bank robber and supplied the gun. During the robbery of the Washington Mutual branch a red dye-pack exploded. The robber, holding a bag emitting a red dye cloud, was seen getting into a getaway car, which drove from the scene. Newsome was apprehended driving the getaway car a short time after the robbery with the red-stained money in his pockets.

The man who actually conducted the robbery, Marc Warren Smith, 36, also a Long Beach resident at the time of the offense, pleaded guilty in July 2002 and was sentenced in October 2002 to 51 months in prison.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.