PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (CBS12) — A man was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to robbing a bank in Fellsmere, leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase that ended in Fort Pierce.
David Abram Ziesel, 45, admitted to the January 2024 robbery in which he entered the bank with his head and face covered, shouting, “This is a robbery!” He demanded that bank employees place cash into his pillowcase before fleeing the scene.
Authorities quickly located Ziesel’s vehicle, and a chase ensued, with Ziesel driving at speeds exceeding 100 mph. The pursuit took officers through Fort Pierce, where Ziesel weaved between cars, ran red lights, and drove on the wrong side of the road. This reckless driving even caused Fellsmere Elementary School to go on lockdown.
The chase ended when Ziesel crashed into another car, causing both vehicles to stop near a power pole.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) reports that this is Ziesel’s third bank robbery conviction, contributing to his lengthy sentence.