Oklahoma Man Sentenced to over 17 Years in Federal Prison for Bank Robbery

FAYETTEVILLE - An Oklahoma City man was sentenced on November 12, 2026, to 210 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, for Bank Robbery and Using a Firearm During and in Relation to a Federal Crime of Violence. The Honorable Chief District Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing, which took place in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.

On January 22, 2026, Deputies with the United States Marshals Service working with detectives from the Fort Smith Police Department and Oklahoma City Police Department arrested Aljon Smith, age 32. According to court documents, on January 20, 2026, Smith entered the First National Bank in Fort Smith, brandished a firearm and ordered one of the bank tellers to the ground and ordered the other teller to lock the door. Smith then ordered the bank employees into the bank vault where he ordered the employees to fill up a trash bag with U.S. currency. Smith then fled the area with the stolen currency. Through investigative efforts, Smith was located two days later in Oklahoma City and arrested. The firearm used in the robbery, as well as some of the stolen currency were recovered.

United States Attorney Kevin R. Holmes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement. The Fort Smith Police Department, FBI, United States Marshals Service and Oklahoma City Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney David Harris prosecuted the case.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice's nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys' offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department's commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.govLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link..