Man Sentenced to Three Life Sentences for Bank Robberies

TWO-MONTH ARMED BANK ROBBERY SPREE RESULTS IN THREE LIFE SENTENCES

OKLAHOMA CITY – DWAYNE EDWARD RASMUSSEN, 56, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to three life sentences for committing three bank robberies in Oklahoma City and Chickasha, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Downing.

“We will continue to bring charges against perpetrators of violence who violate federal law,” said U.S. Attorney Downing. “Through this case and others like it, the Department of Justice is deterring future violence, protecting those in our communities, and safeguarding the integrity of financial systems in the United States.  We hope that today’s sentence serves as a reminder to folks to think twice before robbing a federally insured bank.”

“Bank robbery is a serious violent crime which is aggressively investigated,” said Melissa Godbold, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Oklahoma City Field Office.  “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to work closely together to defend our communities against those who commit violent crime.”

On December 4, 2019, Rasmussen was charged by superseding indicted with four counts of bank robbery.  According to evidence at trial, Rasmussen robbed three banks in the course of two months.  Mark Drew Wilson, Rasmussen’s accomplice for the robberies, testified to driving the getaway vehicle and the preparation for each robbery.

Evidence at trial also showed that Rasmussen wore gloves and disguised his appearance to avoid apprehension during the commission of the robberies.  Bank surveillance video and identifications by bank employees also tied Rasmussen to each bank robbery.  In the robberies, Rasmussen used the same terminology demanding “100s and 50s,” and threatened “That’s not enough.  Give me all your money.”  During the trial, evidence showed it appeared Rasmussen used a firearm during the commission of the bank robberies.

On January 23, 2020, after a six-day jury trial, the jury found Rasmussen guilty of three counts of bank robbery.  The jury a acquitted him on one bank-robbery count.

Today, U.S. District Judge Robin J. Cauthron sentenced Rasmussen to life in prison on each of the three bank robbery counts.  In announcing the sentence, Judge Cauthron noted the impact on victims of Rasumssen’s conduct.

Judge Cauthron also ordered that those three sentences run concurrent to each other.  Judge Cauthron also ordered Rasmussen to pay $37,784.00 in restitution, joint and several with the restitution imposed against Mark Drew Wilson, the getaway driver.  On February 26, 2020, Wilson was sentenced to 30 months in prison for conspiracy to commit bank robbery.

This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI—Oklahoma City Field Office, the Oklahoma City Police Department, the Yukon Police Department, and the Chickasha Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wilson D. McGarry and Mary E. Walters prosecuted the case.