Buffalo Man Indicted for Two Bank Robberies in the City of Buffalo

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Joseph Licata, 43, of Buffalo, New York, was indicted on charges of bank robbery and larceny. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael L. McCabe, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, the defendant robbed an M&T Bank branch on

Grant Street

on November 22, 2010. The indictment further alleges that Licata attempted to steal money from an Elmwood Avenue Bank of America branch on November 29, 2010.

The indictment is the culmination of an investigation on the part of detectives from the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda, and special agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James H. Robertson.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.