Dublin, Ohio – A Dublin resident has admitted to his involvement in a series of armed bank robberies that terrorized Columbus last year. Hussein A. Mohamed, 27, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to federal charges linked to three separate bank robberies committed within a week in April 2024. His charges include three counts of bank robbery, three counts of conspiring to commit bank robbery, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
A Week of Armed Heists in Columbus
Court records detail Mohamed’s role in three back-to-back robberies across Columbus. The first occurred on April 11, 2024, at Telhio Credit Union on North Hamilton Road. Disguised in a dark Patagonia sweatshirt, ripped jeans, a white COVID mask, and a black winter hat, Mohamed approached a bank teller, flashing a message on his phone that demanded cash and warned that he was armed.
Five days later, on April 16, Mohamed struck again—twice. Around 4 p.m., he robbed the Fifth Third Bank on Bethel Road, this time wearing a red sweatshirt, light jeans, a blue COVID mask, and black New Balance shoes. His method remained the same: using a message on his phone to demand money and claim he had a weapon.
But he wasn’t finished. Just 45 minutes later, Mohamed targeted the Huntington Bank on North High Street. Between the two robberies, he changed his outfit to avoid detection. However, this time, the situation escalated. When a teller informed Mohamed that her cash drawer was empty, he pulled a black handgun from his waistband, racked the slide, and forced the bank employees into the vault while making threats.
Law Enforcement Uncovers Key Evidence
Mohamed did not act alone. Investigators revealed that for each of the three robberies, he worked with an accomplice who waited in a vehicle used to transport them to and from the crime scenes.
Authorities later searched an apartment on Merriwick Crossing Drive in Columbus, where they recovered critical evidence linking Mohamed to the crimes. The items found included the outfits worn during each robbery, a loaded handgun, and Mohamed’s wallet and identification.
After an intensive investigation, Mohamed was arrested in May 2024.
Facing Significant Prison Time
Under federal law, bank robbery is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Conspiring to commit bank robbery carries a potential maximum sentence of five years. Brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence comes with a mandatory minimum of seven years, with a possible life sentence. These sentences will be served consecutively, meaning Mohamed faces a lengthy prison term. While Congress establishes sentencing guidelines, the court will determine Mohamed’s final punishment based on statutory factors and advisory sentencing recommendations in a future hearing.
FBI and U.S. Attorney Announce Guilty Plea
Kelly A. Norris, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Cincinnati Division, announced Mohamed’s guilty plea. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Damoun Delaviz and Elizabeth A. Geraghty.
Mohamed’s conviction marks a significant victory in law enforcement efforts to combat violent crime in central Ohio. His sentencing date has yet to be scheduled, but his guilty plea ensures that he will face federal justice for his actions.
