Press Release
Contact:
DANIEL Y. MEKARU
ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY
PHONE: (616) 456-2404
TWO INDIANA MEN INDICTED FOR
BERRIEN TEACHERS CREDIT UNION ROBBERY
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2008-
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Glenn Maurice Porter, 22, and Travis Lamar Curry, 21, both
from Elkhart, Indiana, have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to the
attempted armed robbery of the Berrien Teachers Credit Union, located in Niles, Michigan, U.S.
Attorney Charles R. Gross announced today.
Porter and Curry are charged with conspiring to commit the armed robbery and attempting the armed robbery of the credit union on January 18, 2008. Porter and Curry were also charged with brandishing and discharging firearms in connection with the attempted robbery. Conspiracy is punishable by up to 5 years in prison. Attempted armed robbery of the credit union is punishable by up to 25 years in prison. The brandishing and discharging of firearms charges are punishable by consecutive mandatory minimum sentences of 7 and 10 years, respectively, and up to life in prison.
As alleged in a criminal complaint and charged in the indictment, at about 10:19 a.m. on January 18, 2008, Porter, Curry, and Devarence Kimbrough drove together to the Berrien Teachers Credit Union located at 1501 South Main Street, Niles, Michigan. Curry dropped off Porter and Kimbrough, and waited in a vehicle that was stolen earlier that morning. Porter and Kimbrough entered the credit union brandishing handguns. An armed security guard in the Berrien Teachers Credit Union responded and fired his service revolver. Porter was shot once in the buttocks. Kimbrough was shot twice in the chest and upper body. Porter and Kimbrough then exited the credit union. While fleeing the scene, Kimbrough shot his handgun at the security guard, who was in pursuit. Curry picked up Porter and Kimbrough with the stolen getaway vehicle, and they fled the scene. Kimbrough was later dropped off at South Bend Memorial Hospital located in South Bend, Indiana, but died of his gunshot wounds.
Porter was arrested on March 10, 2008, and has remanded in custody. Curry was arrested on June 17, 2008, and is currently being held. Curry is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ellen S. Carmody on Thursday, June 19, 2008, for his arraignment and a detention hearing.
U.S. Attorney Gross commended the outstanding cooperative efforts of the FBI, the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department, Elkhart City Police Department, South Bend Police Department, and Michigan State Police, and thanked the Berrien County Prosecutor’s Office for their assistance. Berrien County Sheriff L. Paul Bailey stated, “This is a great example of law enforcement agencies working together to serve our citizens, and bringing dangerous armed robbers to justice.” Prosecution of this case is assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Mekaru.
The charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are
presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
END
This
web page last updated on:
June 18, 2008