A 23-year-old Orlando man who robbed an armored truck employee for over $300,000 and led police on a high speed chase that ended in downtown Orlando, has been sentenced to over a decade behind bars.
On Wednesday, Michael Jerome Virgil, was sentenced to 10 years and 10 months in federal prison for armed bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Virgil pled guilty to the charges on May 18, 2023.
According to the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, on September 1, 2022, Virgil approached armored truck employees who were transferring money from a Bank of America on Lake Mary Boulevard.
While one of the guards was loading the money into the back of the armored truck, Virgil brandished a loaded firearm and entered the truck. He stole two bags containing $312,167 and ran back to his vehicle.
While Virgil was attempting to flee, one of the guards attempted to stop him at gunpoint. Virgil drove towards him and the guard discharged his weapon, striking Virgil’s vehicle.
Virgil was pursued by multiple law enforcement agencies through different cities and counties. The chase ended at Camden Orange Court Apartments in downtown Orlando, when officers cornered Virgil’s vehicle. He was taken into custody and officers recovered the firearm used in the robbery, as well as all of the stolen cash.
Virgil was followed by an SCSO helicopter that tracked the vehicle to downtown Orlando, where he was arrested after entering the parking lot.