A 47-year-old Georgia woman could face the rest of her life behind bars after she allegedly used a heavy disguise, a threatening note, and a stolen getaway vehicle to rob a local bank.
Sincere Desire Powell, a resident of Athens, Georgia, was arraigned Wednesday on felony charges of bank robbery and receiving and concealing a stolen motor vehicle, Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido announced.
According to authorities, the incident unfolded on Monday, June 15, 2026, when Powell walked into the Comerica Bank in Sterling Heights. Investigators state she was wearing a wig, sunglasses, a medical mask, and gloves to hide her identity. Once inside, Powell allegedly handed a teller a note demanding that large-denomination bills be placed into a bag she was carrying. The note threatened that she would shoot if her demands were not met.
After securing the money, Powell allegedly fled the scene in a white Jeep. Police later discovered the vehicle had been reported stolen from Troy two days prior, on Saturday, June 13.
The getaway did not last long. Law enforcement officers tracked the stolen Jeep to a parking lot in Warren. Soon after, they located Powell at a nearby hotel and took her into custody.
Inside the abandoned Jeep, investigators recovered items believed to have been worn during the bank robbery. A subsequent search of Powell’s hotel room turned up the stolen cash and additional evidence tying her to the crime, prosecutors said.
On Wednesday, June 17, Powell went before Magistrate Jean M. Cloud in the 41A District Court in Sterling Heights. She is officially charged with bank robbery, a felony punishable by life or any term of years, and receiving and concealing a stolen motor vehicle, a five-year felony. Prosecutors noted that these represent the maximum possible charges available under Michigan law based on the current evidence.
“Bank robbery is an extremely dangerous crime because the act itself creates a substantial risk of physical and psychological harm to many people. My office is committed to enforcing the law, protecting public safety, and ensuring that those accused of violent crimes are held accountable,” Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido said in a statement.
Magistrate Cloud set Powell’s bond at $500,000 cash or surety. Under the conditions of her release, Powell must wear a GPS tether if she is able to post the bond amount.
Powell is currently scheduled to return to the 41A District Court for a probable cause conference before Judge Annemarie M. Lepore on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.
The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office is representing the state in this case. In accordance with the law, Powell is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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