TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A Tallahassee man has pleaded guilty in federal court to robbing a Regions Bank just minutes after it opened, a crime that investigators said ended with his arrest and the recovery of some of the stolen cash.
James Dalton Bryant, 54, of Tallahassee pleaded guilty to a single count of bank robbery, according to an announcement from John P. Heekin, the United States attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“This case exemplifies the excellent investigative work of the Tallahassee Police Department to identify, track down, and arrest violent criminals, like this defendant,” Heekin said. “The safety of our communities is not negotiable, and I am committed to ensuring we aggressively prosecute these crimes to send criminals like this defendant to federal prison.”
Court documents say the robbery happened June 22, 2026, at a Regions Bank in Tallahassee. Investigators said a man approached a teller with a note demanding cash and was given about $3,190 before leaving the bank.
Detectives determined the suspect arrived as a passenger in a white Mercedes sedan and fled in the same vehicle after the robbery. Police identified the vehicle and questioned its owners, who investigators determined were not aware of or involved in the robbery.
Authorities said witness information and an anonymous Crime Solvers tip helped lead investigators to Bryant, who was located and arrested. At the time of his arrest, investigators said he had some of the currency stolen from the bank. When questioned, authorities said Bryant confessed to the robbery.
Bryant faces up to 20 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 10, 2026, at 10 a.m. at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before U.S. District Judge Robert L. Hinkle.
The case was investigated by the Tallahassee Police Department and the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric K. Mountin. The announcement also noted the case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a Department of Justice initiative focused on coordinating efforts among law enforcement and public safety partners to combat violent crime.