Man convicted in June robbery of Columbus’ Regions Bank

A Lake Worth, Fla., man was convicted Friday in federal court for the June armed robbery of Regions Bank on Veterans Parkway, according to a release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Byron McCollum, 68, is scheduled to be sentenced July 6 at 9:30 a.m.

Trial testimony revealed McCollum, along with Michael Lee Hall, walked into the bank on June 2 possessing handguns and wearing wearing masks, hats and gloves, according to the release. Hall walked into the lobby as McCollum went to the bank counter where he ordered a female customer to the floor, the release said.

“Once behind the counter, Mr. McCollum emptied the currency from the cash drawers into a backpack,” the release stated.

The two left in a red Chevrolet Camaro that officials said was stolen from Trophy Ford in Forsyth, Ga.

But before leaving the parking lot, dye packs exploded inside the backpack, covering the money with dye, testimony revealed. After the two abandoned the Camaro, officials said Hall drove McCollum’s gray Cadillac to Macon.

Hall pleaded guilty in August to bank robbery and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Judge Clay Land, who also presided over McCollum’s trial, sentenced Hall to serve 234 months in prion and ordered the defedant to pay restitution to Regions Bank.

Hall isn’t a stranger to bank robberies, according to the statement. He was convicted for armed bank robbery in Columbus in 1994.

“I want to commend the officers from the local and federal agencies who apprehended these two career bank robbers and the prosecutors whose efforts will bring thos careers to an end,” acting U.S. Attorney G.F. Peterman III said in the release.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Columbus Police Department, Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Crawford County Sheriff’s Office and Pinellas County (Fla) Sheriff’s Office, according to the release.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Melvin E. Hyde Jr and Assistant U.S. Attorney Crawford Seals prosecuted the case.

This story was originally published March 4, 2016 at 4:40 PM with the headline "Man convicted in June robbery of Columbus’ Regions Bank."