Bank Robber Sentenced to 63 Months in Prison

On January 19, 2010, Gwendolyn Nell Sherbondy, 47, following her earlier guilty plea to three counts of bank robbery, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Michael R. Hogan to 63 months in federal prison. Upon release from prison, Sherbondy will be on supervised release for a period of three years. Defendant was ordered to pay $11,228 in restitution for the three bank robberies to which she pled guilty and also for the June 11, 2007 robbery of the Bank of America in Bandon, Oregon.

On October 29, 2007, defendant entered the 8th Street Washington Mutual Bank in Myrtle Point, Oregon. Defendant handed the teller a note and said “Give me all your money.” Following a question from the teller, defendant said “I have a gun in my purse, I will shoot you, give me the money.” Defendant ordered the teller to hurry up, and demanded the 50-dollar bills, stating “I want those fifties. I’ll shoot!”

On September 2, 2008, defendant entered the Washington Federal Savings and Loan in Lincoln City, Oregon. Defendant told the teller to give her all the 50 and 100-dollar bills, demanding “Now!” when the teller asked defendant a question.

On February 24, 2009, defendant entered the Wells Fargo Bank at SE Jackson Street in Roseburg, Oregon. Defendant gave the teller a note which read “Give me your money.” Defendant and her vehicle were later identified by law enforcement officers from Coos County, Oregon.

On March 5, 2009, FBI Agents and local law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at defendant’s residence. Agents found a beanie cap consistent with one the defendant wore during the Roseburg bank robbery and a hooded sweatshirt consistent with one the defendant wore during the Lincoln City and Roseburg bank robberies. Defendant was arrested on March 5, 2009, and charged in federal court with bank robbery.

The Eugene and Salem offices of the FBI, the Roseburg Police Department, the Myrtle Point Police Department, the Coos Bay Police Department, the Lincoln City Police Department and the Bandon Police Department investigated the bank robberies. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey S. Sweet, working in cooperation with the Coos County District Attorney’s Office.