A 24-year-old Orlando man was sentenced to 2.5 years in federal prison after he and two others were caught on video chaining an automatic teller machine on Colonial Drive and stealing $116,650.
On Wednesday, Wendell Harp was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for bank burglary and bank theft in connection with the destruction of the ATM machine last May. Harp is the second defendant sentenced in the case, joining Carlos Tawan Reed, Jr., 23, who was sentenced to four years and three months earlier this year.
According to court records, on May 26, 2022, Harp, Reed, and 23-year-old Deontrae Walden wrapped a chain around an ATM machine at a Chase Bank located on East Colonial Drive in Orlando.
Using a stolen F-250 truck, the men destroyed the casing of the ATM and stole cash boxes from inside that contained $116,650.
The men fled the scene in a Mercedes rental car driven by Reed.
Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies were notified of the theft and pursued the men on the ground and in the air. Reed led police on a high-speed chase, which ended when deputies deployed spike strips and disabled the car. All three men attempted to flee on foot, but were arrested a short time later.
All of the money was recovered from inside the stolen Mercedes.
Harp pled guilty to the offense on December 16, 2022.
Walden, who also pled guilty to participating in the robbery, is currently awaiting sentencing, according to court records.