A 54-year-old Ohio man was sentenced to serve time in prison in connection with robbing a First Citizens Bank in Carolina Beach in 2020.
According to a news release from District Attorney Ben David, Charles Lee Pingley pleaded guilty in New Hanover County Superior Court on Monday for armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.
He was sentenced to serve a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of 13 years and ordered to pay back all the stolen money.
According to the release, Pingley robbed the bank at 612 N. Lake Park Blvd. on Oct. 6, 2020, just before 11:30 a.m. The branch has since been closed.
He entered the bank masked, which was common and often required during the pandemic, and he was wearing gloves. Pingley placed an object that was wrapped up on the counter, which made a clanking sound the employees perceived to be a firearm. Pingley handed the teller a bag and ordered her to empty her cash drawer into the bag and then directed another teller to do the same. Pingley took $15,144.
The Carolina Beach Police Department conducted an investigation, which identified Pingley as the offender.
Pingley later robbed two banks in Tennessee. After his arrest for robbing the bank in Carolina Beach, Pingley was transferred into federal custody. Pingley was convicted of the two armed robberies in federal court in Tennessee in March of this year. The U.S. Marshals Service transported Pingley to Wilmington this month to face his New Hanover County charges.