An Ignacio man was sentenced Monday in federal court to more than 12 years in prison for the armed robbery of a Wells Fargo Bank branch in Farmington.
Robert O’Dell Neihart, 44, pleaded guilty Feb. 20 to armed robbery and using a firearm during a crime of violence.
The robbery occurred Sept. 21, 2012, at the Wells Fargo Bank branch on East Main Street in Farmington.
Neihart approached a bank teller and handed her a two-page letter demanding money, according to a news release issued Monday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the district of New Mexico.
In his plea agreement, Neihart admitted to having a pistol in his possession during the time of the robbery, which he later used to shoot at police vehicles that pursued him after the bank robbery.
He was arrested later that day at his Ignacio home.
Denise Myrick, 45, also of Ignacio, pleaded guilty Dec. 4, 2013, to aiding and abetting in the bank robbery, a misdemeanor. In entering her guilty plea, Myrick admitted to driving Neihart to the bank and assisting him in his attempted escape. She was sentenced on March 4, 2014, to three years on probation.
Neihart was sentenced to a total of 148 months in prison by a federal court in Las Cruces, New Mexico. He must serve three years on supervised release after completing his prison term.
shane@durangoherald.com
