Login
Ex-Ohio State football player Marcus Williamson admits to robbing banks
An Ohio man who played defensive back for the Ohio State University football team for four years could spend decades in prison after admitting to committing nine bank robberies over a two-month span.
Marcus Williamson, 27, of Westerville, pleaded guilty on March 23 to nine counts of robbery, five of which were second-degree felonies and four of which were third-degree felonies.
Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Sheryl Munson will sentence Williamson on June 25. He faces sentencing options ranging from probation to up to more than 40 years in prison.
Williamson had initially been charged with 17 counts of robbery, six counts of felony theft and one count of misdemeanor theft.
Assistant Franklin County Prosecutor Jason Manning said the five of the robberies, which occurred in March and April 2024, involved Williamson either saying or implying he had a gun. The banks Williamson robbed were spread across Franklin County.
Court records say Williamson would pass a note to the bank teller demanding money in $20, $50 and $100 denominations. He would wear latex gloves when committing the robberies.
Manning said Williamson did not get money in every robbery but in total, he stole about $22,000 from the various banks.
Police arrested Williamson on April 24, 2024, after he was seen leaving the First Merchants Bank at 5909 N. High St.
Williamson had been under investigation at the time of his arrest for the series of robberies, all of which were conducted the same way. Officers saw Williamson leave the bank and get into a Jeep Compass. When he was stopped a short time later, Williamson had money from the bank in his possession, court records say.
Williamson played defensive back for Ohio State between 2017 and 2021.
Reporter Bethany Bruner can be reached at bbruner@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Former OSU football player Marcus Williamson admits to robbing banks
