A Macon man was sentenced this week to nearly eight years in prison for a series of armed bank robberies after pleading guilty earlier this year, as reported by the U.S. Department of Justice. Felix Cordes, 58, received a 97-month sentence followed by a five-year supervised release and was ordered to pay full restitution totaling $38,274. The sentencing comes in response to a crime spree that terrorized bank employees and patrons and culminated in two successful robberies and one attempted heist across Macon credit unions in 2022.
According to court documents, Cordes’ first robbery took place on April 2, 2022, at MidSouth Community Federal Credit Union in Macon disguising himself with overalls, a bandana, and sunglasses while wielding a firearm he ordered tellers to empty their cash drawers, resulting in some experiencing panic attacks due to the coercion. In a later crime committed on May 2, and accompanied by an unidentified accomplice, he targeted Central Georgia Regional Credit Union wearing blue latex gloves and again brandished a firearm he managed to flee with stolen cash. Following his crime spree, Cordes frivolously spent part of the stolen money on electronic devices from a Boost Mobile store, evincing a threadbare understanding of the digital footprints one leaves.
An attempt at a third bank robbery on May 24 at another MidSouth location was foiled when attentive bank staff noticed Cordes and his accomplice, both masked and armed, approaching and quickly secured the premises preventing any loss. After a search warrant was executed at a residence linked to Cordes on April 6, 2022, police discovered a bandana like the one used in the first robbery, blue latex gloves similar to those from the second robbery, cellphone boxes corresponding to the ones purchased with ill-gotten gains, and a box of ammunition.
Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker emphasized the seriousness of Cordes' offenses, saying, "Criminal offenders who instill fear in our community by conducting bank robberies will face consequences for their actions," with the Department of Justice reporting these remarks, Bibb County Sheriff David Davis also recognized the potential peril saying "Felix Cordes was a ruthless and relentless criminal who possibly could have killed innocent bank employees had he not been stopped by the diligent work of investigators." Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, also acknowledged the collective sigh of relief in knowing that, despite the palpable threat, no one was physically harmed during Cordes' robbery streak and expressed gratitude for Cordes being apprehended and receiving a fitting sentencing that reflects the merit of the fear and turmoil he inflicted on the community.
