The United States Attorney’s Office for
the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that today in Scranton, Senior
United States District Court Judge James M. Munley sentenced Joseph Swerdon,
age 54, formerly of Luzerne, Pennsylvania, to 94 months’ imprisonment for his
role as the getaway driver for the armed robbery of a Hanover Township Bank.
Swerdon previously pleaded guilty to a
criminal information that alleged that on October 30, 2010, Swerdon acted as
the getaway driver during the armed bank robbery of the M&T Bank in Hanover
Township, Pennsylvania. The criminal information alleged that Swerdon and his
co-conspirators made away with $17,808.32. In addition, Swerdon pleaded guilty
to a second count that alleged he conspired with others to carry firearms in
connection with that bank robbery.
According to Assistant United States
Attorney John Gurganus, who prosecuted the case, the evidence presented at the
trial of Kareem Shabazz established that on October 30, 2010, Joseph Swerdon
drove Kareem Shabazz, Shaelyn Joy Davis, and James Russell to the M&T Bank.
Shabazz, Davis, and Russell entered the bank brandishing weapons, including
pistols and a sawed-off shotgun. Shabazz was wearing a mask and wielding the
short-barreled shotgun.
Shabazz and another robber vaulted over
the teller counter, and one of the armed bank robbers closed the blinds so no
person could see in from the outside. The robbers ordered the bank employees
and a bank customer to get on the ground. The robbers then left the bank with
$17,808.32, and Swerdon drove two of the robbers to New York, where they met
with other conspirators to divide the money.
Judge Munley previously sentenced Kareem
Shabazz, a career offender, to life imprisonment; and Shaelyn Joy Davis to 90
months’ imprisonment.
In noting the sentences, Mr. Smith
praised the work of the FBI, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Hanover
Township Police Department in solving this case.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment