Three Bragg soldiers, woman arrested in bank-robbery plot

Fayetteville, N.C. — A multi-agency investigation into a bank-robbery plot led to the arrest of three Fort Bragg soldiers and a Fayetteville woman Friday.

The four had planned to use weapons in the robbery of Fort Sill National Bank, 6243 Yadkin Road, Fayetteville police said. The bank is in a strip mall about two-thirds of a mile from Fort Bragg.

Pfc. Prielinso Andre Conner, 20, Tajia Renee Conner, 19, and Pvt. Justin Lee Roberson, 22,  all of 1602 Rim Road, and Pfc. Louis Edward Rodriguez, 20, were charged with conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Rodriguez was released on bond Monday, but the others remained in the Cumberland County Detention Center under $10,000 bonds.

Fort Bragg spokesman Tom McCollum said a fourth soldier also was involved in the case, but Fayetteville police said that wasn't the case.

All of the soldiers are members of the 101st Chemical Detachment at Fort Bragg, McCollum said.

The FBI wanted Prielinso Conner and Tajia Conner for another bank robbery, according to an arrest warrant.

The suspects were arrested after investigation by the FBI, Fort Bragg Criminal Investigations Division, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Fayetteville Police Department.

Fort Sill National Bank has been robbed twice in recent months. In July, police said three gunmen kidnapped the bank manager from her home and drove her to the bank so they could steal money. The bank was also robbed in April.

All four defendants are scheduled for preliminary hearings on Dec. 16.