A convicted felon accused of robbing a Gadsden bank earlier this year has been indicted on federal charges.
Edward Aliji Muhammed Brown, 41, is charged with armed bank robbery and being a felon in possession with a gun, according to a joint announcement Thursday by Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton Peoples.
The two-count indictment was issued Wednesday by a federal grand jury in Birmingham.
The holdup happened March 31, at The Exchange Bank on Noccalula Road. Authorities said the armed suspect robbed the bank about 3:50 p.m. that Friday and fled in a white minivan.
The following day, Gadsden police announced his arrest by posting this on Facebook: “Almost 19 hours of freedom. Almost. Suspect and his van are in the care and custody of the Gadsden Police Department.”
Brown is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of a prior felony conviction. The Gadsden man was convicted of first-degree robbery in Etowah County on Aug. 24, 1999.
The maximum penalty for armed bank robbery is 25 years in prison. The maximum penalty for being a felon in possession of a firearm is 15 years in prison.
