Former Floridian Pleads Guilty to Armed Robberies of Two Pittsburgh-area Banks

PITTSBURGH – A former resident of Pompano Beach, Florida, has pleaded guilty to charges of violating federal armed bank robbery laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Robert Stiver, 71, pleaded guilty to two counts of armed bank robbery in front of United States District Court Judge Cathy Bissoon. Stiver has been detained since his arrest at the Pittsburgh International Airport on December 22, 2016, and will remain detained pending sentencing.

According to information presented to the court, on November 2, 2016, Robert Stiver walked into the Allegheny Valley Bank in Shaler, PA wearing an orange construction vest, a duffel bag around his neck, a homemade face mask and a long wig. He approached a teller brandishing a large revolver and announced to everyone in the bank not to try anything or he would have to shoot. He then told the teller to hand over the money from her drawers. The teller complied and Stiver placed the money in the bag draped around his neck. Stiver then walked out of the front door of the bank and fled southbound in a black Toyota Versa Sedan. Stiver netted approximately $2,063 in cash from the robbery.

On December 9, 2016, Stiver walked into the First Commonwealth Bank in Harmarville, PA. Stiver was wearing light color blue jeans, white shoes, and a dark hooded jacket, and, orange construction vest, a homemade face mask and a long wig. Once again, Stiver had a large duffel bag around the front of his person. He approached the teller holding a large revolver in his right hand and demanded money from the drawers without any dye packs. The teller complied and handed over approximately $5,732 in US currency. Stiver fled out of an employee entrance in the back. Surveillance footage captured Stiver fleeing the scene in a small white Ford Focus.

On December 22, 2016, Special Agents of FBI-Pittsburgh’s Violent Crimes Task Force stopped and arrested Stiver at Pittsburgh International Airport while he was attempting to board a plane. Pursuant to a search warrant, Special Agents recovered money stolen from the Harmarville, PA bank in Stiver’s bag. Stiver was arrested and charged by federal criminal complaint at the time.

Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for August 13, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. The law provides for a maximum sentence of not more than 25 years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000, or both for each armed robbery count. 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 Attorney Timothy M. Lanni is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The FBI Pittsburgh’s Violent Crimes Task Force, Allegheny County Police, Allegheny County Sherriff’s Department, the Shaler Township Police Department, and the Harmar Township Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the guilty plea in this case.