A 27-year-old man has admitted his role in three violent robbery attempts at a Bank of America in Prince George’s County and in the killing of an acquaintance in the aftermath of one of the robberies. Anthony D. Nelson, who has lived in D.C. and Suitland, pleaded guilty in federal court in Greenbelt to armed bank robbery and using a firearm in a crime of violence. As part of his plea agreement, Nelson also admitted that he fatally shot a man in a hotel parking lot after one of the incidents.
According to prosecutors and court documents, Nelson conspired to rob the Bank of America on the 5800 block of Silver Hill Road in Forestville where his girlfriend worked. He first tried to rob it as his girlfriend and another teller were leaving the bank in January 2005, but the other teller closed the door before he could reach it.
Then, on Feb. 11, 2005, Nelson co-conspirator Tyrone Lockhart tried to rob the bank again.
Court documents say Nelson accosted his girlfriend as she returned from her lunch break and pretended to force her into the bank. Inside, he brandished a firearm, obtained nearly $100,000 in cash and locked two tellers in the bank’s vault.
Nelson and Lockhart left the area and met up with Lockhart’s cousin and his cousin’s friend, Richard Botchway.
The four were looking for a hotel to have a party with the money from the bank robbery. In a hotel parking lot on Golden Triangle Drive in Greenbelt, court documents say, Nelson brandished a handgun and shot Botchway once in the back of the head, instantly killing him.
The men fled the scene, and a hotel employee found Botchway’s body in the car.
On April 28, 2005, Nelson took his girlfriend’s keys to the bank for a third robbery try. Court documents say Nelson and an accomplice let themselves into the bank, pulled out a handgun and robbed the bank of more than $26,000.
He will be sentenced April 18. Plea documents say prosecutors and his attorney are recommending a sentence of 50 years in prison.
Nelson’s attorney couldn’t be reached for comment.
Lockhart has also pleaded guilty. Nelson’s girlfriend, Shameka Cooper, has been charged with conspiracy and records show her case is still pending.
