Criminal Complaint Filed Against McCandless Man Caught by FBI while Intending to Rob 4th Bank in 8 Days

PITTSBURGH – Dylan Michael Poole, 24, of McCandless, Pa., has been charged by criminal complaint with robbing three area banks and attempting to rob a fourth bank, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Poole was arrested on Nov. 15, 2018 after entering the PNC Bank in Latrobe, Pa. FBI investigators found on his person a robbery demand note that stated, "I have a gun this is a robbery empty the drawer no funny business no one gets hurt." According to the criminal complaint filed in this case, this note was similar to ones Poole left at the scene of two of his prior bank robberies: Nov. 9 in Donegal, Pa., and Nov. 13 in Wexford, Pa.

Additionally, the complaint alleges that on Nov. 8, 2018, Poole entered the WesBanco Bank in McCandless, Pa., and handed the teller a note that read, "This is a robbery, give me all the 100s, 50s and 20s. No funny stuff and nobody will get hurt." Poole received approximately $2,030 from the teller and fled the bank.

On Nov. 9, 2018, Poole entered a PNC Bank located in Donegal, Pa. He approached the teller and handed the teller a note that read, "I have a gun empty all your 100s, 50s, 20s from the drawer. No funny business and no one gets hurt." Poole received approximately $2,388 from the teller and fled the bank. During his flight, Poole left the note behind. Pennsylvania State Police collected the note when responding to the scene.

On Nov. 13, 2018, Poole entered a First National Bank in Wexford, Pa. Poole approached the teller and handed the teller a note that read, "This is a robbery empty the drawer I have a gun that I don’t want to use no funny business no one gets hurt." Poole received $1,028 from the teller and fled the bank. Poole also left this note in the bank during his flight and it was recovered by Allegheny County Police.

FBI investigators were able to track a vehicle leaving the Nov. 13, 2018 bank robbery that was captured on video surveillance. The car was registered to Poole. On November 15, 2018, FBI investigators set up surveillance on Poole at his home in McCandless. Poole drove to the PNC Bank in Latrobe and entered the bank. Once Poole entered the bank he was arrested by FBI investigators. Located on the person of Poole was a note that read, "I have a gun this is a robbery empty the drawer no funny business no one gets hurt."

After Poole was detained, investigators searched his vehicle and recovered money stolen from the November 13, 2018 robbery in Wexford.

Poole made an initial appearance today in federal court. U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisa Lenihan scheduled a detention hearing for Poole on Nov. 20 at 11:30 a.m.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy M. Lanni and Yvonne Saadi are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The FBI Pittsburgh’s Violent Crimes Task Force, with assistance from the Pennsylvania State Police, Northern Regional Police Department, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, McCandless Police Department and Shaler Township Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

A criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty