Delanio Benford Sentenced to 113 Months in Federal Prison for the Robberies of Rockford-Area Banks and Credit Union

A Rockford, Illinois man was sentenced in federal court before U.S. District Judge Frederick J. Kapala to 113 months in prison without parole, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for robbing two Rockford-area banks and a credit union. Delanio Benford, 34, pled guilty on March 22, 2013, to the robbery of Associated Bank, 3333 N. Rockton Ave., on June 22, 2010; PNC Bank, 6709 E. Riverside Blvd., on July 15, 2010; and Members Alliance Credit Union, 6951 Olde Creek Rd., on July 28, 2010 and September 11 , 2010. Benford was also ordered to pay restitution of $38,771 to the banks and credit union. Benford will not be eligible for parole.

Two other individuals have also pled guilty and been sentenced in related cases:

Prince Williams, 27, of Rockford, pled guilty on April 19, 2012, to six counts of bank/credit union robbery and one count of armed bank robbery, all in Rockford, including: First Northern Credit Union, 2235 12th St., Rockford, on May 3, 2010; National City Bank (now PNC Bank), 1551 Sandy Hollow Rd., on June 10, 2010, while armed with a handgun; Associated Bank, 3333 N. Rockton Ave., on June 22, 2010; PNC Bank, 6709 E. Riverside Blvd., on July 15, 2010; Harris N.A., 1275 Bennington Rd., on July 22, 2010; and Members Alliance Credit Union, 6951 Olde Creek Rd., on July 28, 2010 and on September 11 , 2010, while using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence. Williams was sentenced by Judge Kapala on December 4, 2013, to 128 months in federal prison without parole and five years of supervised release following imprisonment and was ordered to pay restitution of $56,644.35 to the banks and credit unions.

Michael Buck, 28, also of Rockford, pled guilty on October 3, 2013, to the robbery of Members Alliance Credit Union on September 11, 2013, and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Philip G. Reinhard to 125 months in federal prison without parole, three years of supervised release following his release from prison, and ordered pay restitution of $12,180 to Members Alliance.

The sentencing was announced by Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert J. Holley, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Rockford Police Department and Rockton Police Department assisted in the investigation.

The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Pedersen.