North GA Credit Union Armed Robbery Suspects Go to Trial This Week

Two men are on trial in federal court in Athens  this week, almost three years after they allegedly committed an armed robbery at the North Georgia Credit Union in Lavonia.

Orlando Brock and 43-year old Walter Butler of Bowersville have chosen to have jury trials.  Brock is charged with armed robbery and brandishing a firearm during the commission of a crime.  Brock and Butler are two of four suspects arrested by FBI agents in connection with the case.

The armed robbery took place on the afternoon September 22, 2011.  Soon afterwards, 43-year old Walter Butler, Jr of Bowersville was arrested by the Georgia State Patrol after a short chase.

Brock was the fourth suspect to be arrested in that case.  His arrest came last fall at the Fed Ex office where he worked as a supervisor, according to Lavonia Police Chief Bruce Carlisle.

Three other suspects in the case were already in custody.  They are identified as 40-year old Juan Vladimer Camp of Gainesville.

Camp was picked up at a construction job site in Gwinnett County.  A fourth suspect, Alan Colbert was arrested in December 2012.

Carlisle said Camp and Colbert pleaded guilty and have been cooperating with investigators, which also resulted in the recovery of the gun last year that was used in the robbery.

Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation have continued to work the case, with help from the Lavonia Police, according Carlisle.

“The investigation began in 2011 and has continued to the present,” Carlisle said. “It’s been a collaborative effort between the Lavonia Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Lavonia Chief Investigator Missy Collins is helping present the case with the U.S. attorney this week. She has been working closely with the FBI since the time of the bank robbery.”

Carlisle said the trial this week in Athens is expected to last through the end of the week.