United States v. Rufus Williams

This is an appeal from a judgment of conviction, after jury trial, of a single count of bank robbery in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a).

We reverse.

A branch of the Bank of America in San Diego, California, was robbed on February 16, 1978, by a lone black man. A grand jury from the Southern District of California charged the appellant, Rufus Williams, with the offense.

Investigation of the crime led the F.B.I. agent in charge of the case to conclude that the robber wore a wig during the robbery. On March 4, 1978, a United States Magistrate ordered appellant to participate in a line-up. The…