According to the Fullerton Police Department, police officers were summoned to the 900 block of N. Harbor Blvd. on Thursday, April 9, at around 9:20 a.m., to investigate an attempted bank robbery.
The suspect reportedly passed a note requesting money, then returned the note and departed the scene without receiving any cash.
Officers responded swiftly and spotted the subject near Harbor Blvd. and Union Ave., where he was apprehended without incident.
Eddie Williams, a 30-year-old Los Angeles resident, was booked into the Fullerton Jail for felony attempted robbery.
Eddie Williams faces hefty legal consequences under California state law and likely federal punishment after his arrest for attempted bank robbery in Fullerton on April 12, 2026.
California State Penalties Faced by the Suspect
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The Fullerton Police Department arrested Williams for felony attempted robbery. In California, bank robbery is usually classified as second-degree robbery.
Prison Sentence: Attempted second-degree robbery is punishable by 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years in state prison.
Note: Attempted crimes generally carry half the term of the completed crime. Since second-degree robbery carries 2, 3, or 5 years, the attempt usually falls into the 1–2.5 year range, but specific “violent felony” designations for robbery can result in the standard 16-month to 3-year triad.
Three Strikes Law: Attempted robbery is a violent felony and counts as a “strike” on a criminal record. If Williams has prior strikes, his sentence could be doubled or increased to 25 years to life.
Fines: He may face a fine of up to $5,000 (half of the $10,000 maximum for a completed robbery).
Potential Federal Penalties Faced by the Suspect
Because most banks are federally insured, the FBI frequently takes on these investigations. Federal law makes no distinction between a successful heist and an attempt that employs “force, violence, or intimidation”.
- Prison Sentence: Up to 20 years in federal prison.
- Fines: Up to $250,000.
- Supervised Release: Usually 3 years following any prison term.
Aggravating Factors and Sentencing
The precise “note-passing” strategy, while nonviolent in execution, fits the legal standard for intimidation.
- Restitution: Williams will likely be ordered to pay restitution for any costs incurred by the bank or victims, even though no money was taken.
- Probation: While a judge has the discretion to grant felony probation, robbery convictions are “presumptively ineligible” for probation in California, meaning prison is the standard outcome.