United States of America v. Bruce J. Dortch, Delonta McKnight, and Dontae D. Orduna

Omaha, Nebraska, criminal defense lawyers represented the Defendants charged with bank robbery in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2113.

Between October 3 and November 7, 2023, Bruce J. Dortch, 31, Delonta McKnight, 34, and Dontae D. Orduna, 36, all of Omaha, Nebraska, had a group chat where they agreed to “get money” and began plotting. At that time, McKnight was incarcerated at FCI Pollock because of a prior federal bank robbery conviction. McKnight utilized a smuggled phone to initiate the group chat.

On January 14, 2025, Orduna and Dortch were captured on video surveillance arriving at Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska, and ultimately drove to the Community State Bank, where they were captured on video surveillance entering the bank wearing disguises to include realistic human face masks with handguns drawn.

They pointed handguns at the bank employees and demanded money. Dortch grabbed an employee, led her to the vault at gunpoint, and demanded she place the money in a bag. Dortch and Orduna directed bank employees to spread bills to ensure there were no dye packs. Orduna took the money from the teller drawers, then Dortch and Orduna zip-tied the bank employees, instructed them to lie on the floor of the vault, and then closed the vault with the employees inside.

Dortch and Orduna left the bank with $71,097.00, including bait bills.

Dortch was sentenced on August 17, 2026, and Orduna on August 31, 2026, to 204 months’ imprisonment: 120 months for bank robbery and 84 months for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. McKnight was sentenced on August 31, 2026, to 60 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to commit bank robbery. McKnight’s sentence will be served consecutive to concurrent 96-month sentences imposed in U.S. District Court of Nebraska and U.S. District Court of Northern Georgia.