Bank Robbery Defense Lawyer in Melbourne, FL

Federal Court Defense on the Space Coast, from a Fully Board-Certified Team

Bank robbery isn’t a local matter. When the targeted institution is federally insured, the charge falls under 18 U.S.C. 2113, the federal bank robbery statute, and prosecution moves through the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida’s Orlando Division. That means FBI investigators, federal prosecutors, and federal sentencing guidelines from day one. At Funk, Szachacz & Diamond, our attorneys are admitted to practice in U.S. District Courts and the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, and we bring a three-attorney collaborative review to every case we handle.

Every attorney at our firm holds Florida Bar Board Certification in Criminal Trial Law, a credential held by fewer than one percent of attorneys in the state and one that requires re-evaluation every five years. Most firms have a single certified lawyer. Our entire team is certified. When all three partners review your file together, you get the combined trial perspective of attorneys who have served as lead counsel in thousands of cases and hundreds of jury trials, from local felonies to complex federal indictments.

If you’re facing bank robbery allegations in Melbourne, FL or anywhere in Brevard County, don’t wait to get counsel. Call Funk, Szachacz & Diamond at (321) 360-4446 for a free consultation.

What a Federal Bank Robbery Conviction Can Mean

The penalties under 18 U.S.C. 2113 escalate sharply depending on the facts of the alleged offense, and the structure makes clear why these charges demand serious federal defense from the start.

Force or Intimidation (18 U.S.C. 2113(a)): Taking or attempting to take bank property by force, violence, or intimidation carries up to 20 years in federal prison, a fine, or both.
Dangerous Weapon Enhancement (18 U.S.C. 2113(d)): Assaulting a person or endangering a life with a dangerous weapon during the offense raises the maximum penalty to 25 years.
Kidnapping or Homicide Enhancement (18 U.S.C. 2113(e)): Forcing someone to accompany the offender or killing a person during the offense or an escape attempt carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years and can result in life imprisonment or the death penalty.

Federal charges also frequently include firearm enhancements under 18 U.S.C. 924(c), which can add mandatory consecutive prison time on top of any underlying sentence. Our attorneys have secured acquittals in cases involving hundreds of counts of federal fraud and capital offenses, and we bring that same analytical rigor to every case we take on.

A Melbourne Firm Built for Federal Court

Our attorneys bring decades of combined experience as former Assistant State Attorneys and Felony Division Chiefs. Members of our firm have served on the Florida Bar’s Board Certification Committee for Criminal Trial Law and have received the Brevard County Bar Association Professionalism Award and Trial Attorney of the Year honors. We’ve managed complex federal prosecutions involving NASA and multi-state fraud allegations, and our admissions include the U.S. Supreme Court and approved counsel status at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

That depth of federal court experience, paired with our collaborative model, means no single attorney carries your defense alone. All three partners work your case together, reviewing the evidence, identifying weaknesses in the government’s theory, and building a strategy that accounts for every angle.

Start Your Defense Today

Federal bank robbery charges move fast once an investigation is underway. The sooner you have qualified counsel, the more options remain open. We offer a free consultation for individuals facing these charges in Melbourne, Florida and throughout Brevard County.

Call us today at (321) 360-4446 to speak directly with a Board-Certified Criminal Trial Specialist at Funk, Szachacz & Diamond.

What Federal Law Defines as Bank Robbery

18 U.S.C. 2113 covers a broader range of conduct than most people expect. To convict under the primary robbery provision, prosecutors must prove the defendant took or attempted to take money or property belonging to a bank, credit union, or savings and loan association by force, violence, or intimidation. The statute also reaches anyone who enters or attempts to enter such a building with intent to commit a felony or larceny inside, even if no property was taken.

Coverage extends beyond bank branches. Armored trucks, night depositories, and ATMs connected to a federally insured institution all fall within its reach. Florida’s state robbery statute, Section 812.13, can apply concurrently depending on jurisdiction and the facts of the case, meaning a defendant could face charges in both systems.

Not every allegation rises to robbery by force. Under 18 U.S.C. 2113(b), taking bank property without force or intimidation is a lesser-included offense, bank larceny, which carries substantially lower penalties. Whether the government can actually prove force or intimidation is one of the first questions any defense needs to answer.

How a Federal Bank Robbery Case Moves Through Court

Bank robbery cases involving federally insured institutions are investigated by the FBI, which has held primary responsibility for these investigations since the 1930s. The FBI’s resources, including surveillance analysis, forensic evidence, and informant networks, typically come into play well before any arrest. By the time charges are filed, the government often has months of investigative work behind it.

Cases arising in Brevard County are prosecuted in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida’s Orlando Division, which also covers Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Volusia counties. Federal proceedings operate under different rules, timelines, and sentencing frameworks than state court, and federal prosecutors in that district are experienced in these cases. Having attorneys already admitted to practice there and familiar with its procedures matters from the arraignment forward.

Defense Approaches in Federal Bank Robbery Cases

Every federal bank robbery defense starts with the same question: what can the government actually prove? Common strategies address specific weaknesses in the prosecution’s case.

Challenging Force or Intimidation: When the government can’t establish force or intimidation, the conduct may fit only the lesser-included offense of bank larceny, which carries substantially lower penalties.
Mistaken Identification: Bank robbers frequently use masks or disguises, which complicates both eyewitness accounts and surveillance-based identification. Challenging the reliability of that identification is a common and sometimes decisive defense.
Unlawful Search or Seizure: Evidence obtained through an unlawful search may be subject to a suppression motion, which can significantly narrow what the government is permitted to use at trial.
Coercion or Duress: A defendant who acted under credible threats of imminent harm from another party may raise coercion or duress as a defense.

The right strategy depends on the specific facts, the strength of the evidence, and whether additional charges such as firearm enhancements under 18 U.S.C. 924(c) are part of the indictment. Our three-attorney review process is designed to surface every viable argument before strategy decisions are made.

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Our Case Results

From murder charges to alleged fraud, our case successes speak for themselves. Our clients themselves testify to the premium care that our firm holds as a standard for all of our cases.

No Incarceration “Pizza Hut” Homicide
Dismissed 10 Counts of Lewd and Lascivious Acts upon a Child and 2 Counts of Felony Interference with Custody.
Dismissed 13 Count Indictment
Dismissed 15 County Fraud Throughout Florida
Acquitted 166-Counts of Fraud Involving Space Vehicle Parts

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We do not cut corners. Every case is handled with the utmost integrity and complete honesty.
Experienced Professionals

All of our attorneys are Certified by the Florida Bar, making them an all certified criminal defense team.