Community Corner

Suspect in McLean Carjacking, Attempted Bank Robbery Charged in Federal Court

Stephanie Schwab Held on Federal Charges

A 26-year-old Virginia woman who is suspected of trying to rob a McLean bank Wednesday was formally charged in U.S. District Court in Alexandria Thursday.

Stephanie Schwab, who is reportedly from the Manassas area, appeared before U.S. Magistrate John F. Anderson where she was charged with one count of bank robbery, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

That charge stemmed from the Nov. 22 holdup of a BB&T branch in Springfield, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney said.

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Shortly after 1 p.m. Wednesday, carjacking and bank robbery suspect Stephanie Lynn Schwab allegedly walked into the BB&T bank in the Chesterbrook Shopping Center in McLean and tried unsuccessfully to rob it.

She fled. After a chase from Virginia to Maryland, she crashed her car and was apprehended in Bethesda.

Find out what's happening in McLeanwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

She also faces Virginia state charges and they will remain while she faces federal charges, the spokesperson explained.

She told the magistrate that she could not afford an attorney so one was appointed for her, the spokesman said.

She is scheduled to return to U.S. District Court Monday for a preliminary hearing. She is in the custody of the U.S. Marshals.

The Washington Post reported that the mother of two, made no statement during her brief appearance Thursday.

The Washington Post also reported that the alleged crime rampage started Nov. 18, when police say Schwab, who resides in Manassas, walked into a Manassas Commerce Bank branch, implied that she had a gun and demanded money.

The next day, Schwab approached a woman in the Tysons II Galleria parking lot and asked for a ride to a gas station, police said. The victim agreed to give Schwab a ride in her Acura, police said, and as they drove away, Schwab pulled out a knife and demanded that the victim leave the car.


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