Philly Man Sentenced For Attempted Bank Robbery In Holland: DOJ

HOLLAND, PA — A Philadelphia man was sentenced to jail and supervised release after he plead guilty to the attempted robbery of a Holland bank in 2017.

Ronald DeWitt Vines, 50, was sentenced to 13 years in prison and five years of supervised release by United States District Court Judge Paul S. Diamond on May 3. In August of 2021, Vines plead guilty to charges of attempted armed bank robbery and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

In November of 2017, Vines, along with several accomplices, attempted to rob the PNC Bank on Buck Road. One of the accomplices was Vine's son, Elijah, who, according to the Department of Justice, placed a gun to the head of a bank employee as she arrived for work early in the morning.

While attempting to get the employee to open the bank door, another employee screamed when she realized the bank was being robbed. Vines, along with Elijah and his other son Solomon, fled the scene.

The three were pulled over by Northampton Township police who were responding to a 911 call. Police found a loaded semi-automatic handgun, one loaded rifle, and two body armor vests in the getaway car.

“This defendant terrified and threatened the lives of bank employees who were just attempting to do their jobs, and he convinced his sons – young men with their whole lives ahead of them – to help him pull it off,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “The simple fact is that this family is a danger to the community. This case demonstrates why our All Hands On Deck initiative is so important: we are investigating and prosecuting the most violent criminals to get them off the streets and behind bars.