Rocklin Woman Dubbed "The Grandma Bank Robber" Gets Three Years in Federal Prison

SACRAMENTO, Calif.—United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today that VALERIE HARRIS, 51, of Rocklin, California was sentenced yesterday afternoon by United States District Court Judge Frank C. Damrell, Jr. yesterday afternoon to 36 months in prison for armed bank robbery and bank fraud.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Sacramento Violent Crimes Task Force, which includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Roseville Police Department, and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. During the early stages of the investigation, the task force dubbed the perpetrator “The Grandma Bank Robber” because surveillance photos depicted the robber to be between her early 50s and early 60s.

According to Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Rodriguez, who prosecuted the case, HARRIS brandished a “Colt 454 Cowboy Style Pistol” during commission of a December 12, 2007 bank robbery at the U.S. Bank located inside the Safeway grocery store at 989 Sunrise Avenue, Roseville, California. On December 18, 2007, HARRIS was arrested based on a citizen tip that she attempted to pay a debt with bank robbery loot. During the course of the investigation, the FBI uncovered additional fraud crimes committed by HARRIS. She also pleaded guilty to executing a fraudulent scheme to defraud Bank of America by cashing stolen and forged checks.

In addition to the 36 month prison sentence, Judge Damrell imposed supervised release for 36 months and ordered HARRIS to pay full restitution for her robbery and fraud convictions. She was remanded into custody yesterday afternoon.

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