New York City Man Sentenced to More Than 13 Years’ Imprisonment for Role in the Armed Robbery of a Hanover Township Bank

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Monday in Scranton, Senior United States District Court Judge James M. Munley sentenced James Russell age 57, formerly of New York City, to 13 years’ and nine months’ imprisonment for his role in the armed robbery of a Hanover Township Bank.

Russell pleaded guilty to all the charges in a superseding indictment filed in April 2012 that charged that on October 30, 2010, Russell brandished a firearm and controlled the lobby of the M&T Bank in Hanover Township, Pennsylvania, while co-defendants Shaelyn Joy Davis and Kareem Shabazz vaulted over the teller counter to access the money drawers.

Russell and his co-defendants stole $17,808.32.

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.

The 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; Shaelyn Joy Davis to 90 months’ imprisonment; and Joseph Swerdon to 94 months’ imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the FBI, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Hanover Township Police Department.

Two Reading Men Sentenced to Prison for Schuylkill County Bank Robbery

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Senior United States District Judge James M. Munley sentenced two Reading men on September 18 to prison for their role in committing an armed bank robbery in Schuylkill County.

According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, Justin Allen Smith, age 21, of Reading, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 72 months in prison, while Quamaine Irvin Smith-Tisdale, age 23, also of Reading, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for their role in committing an armed bank robbery which occurred at the Union Bank and Trust located in West Brunswick Township, Schuylkill County, on April 18, 2011. After the commission of the robbery, Smith-Tisdale, Smith, and a third man, Orlando Velez, Jr., age 23, also of Reading, were apprehended by the Pennsylvania State Police after leading police on a high-speed vehicle chase.

In addition, Senior Judge Munley ordered that Smith-Tisdale and Smith be supervised by a probation officer for three years after serving their prison sentences.

Smith-Tisdale and Smith previously entered guilty pleas to the charge of aiding and abetting an armed bank robbery before Senior Judge Munley on June 19, 2012.

United States Attorney Smith noted that Orlando Velez, Jr. has not yet been sentenced.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara.

North Side Man Sentenced to 12.5 Years in Prison for Heroin Trafficking Conspiracy

PITTSBURGH—A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has been sentenced in federal court for violating federal narcotics trafficking laws, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Richard Wagner, 28, was sentenced to serve 150 months in prison followed by eight years of supervised release by United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab. From January 2010 to March 3, 2011, Wagner conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.

Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.

U.S. Attorney Hickton commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, the Ross Township Police Department, the Canonsburg Police Department, and the Allegheny County Police Department for the successful investigation leading to the conviction and sentence in this case.

New York Man Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Armed Robbery of Hanover Township Bank

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Senior United States District Court Judge James M. Munley has sentenced Kareem Shabazz, age 54, formerly of New York City, to life imprisonment for the armed robbery of a Hanover Township Bank. On May 4, 2012, after deliberating less than one hour, a federal jury returned the guilty verdict on all counts in the trial.

United States Attorney Peter J. Smith noted that the jury convicted Shabazz of the armed bank robbery of the M & T Bank at 722 San Souci Parkway in Hanover Township, Pennsylvania. The jury also found that Shabazz brandished a short-barreled shotgun during the robbery and was guilty of conspiracy to do so. Finally, the jury found Shabazz guilty of transporting firearms with the intent to use them in the commission of a home invasion robbery in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

According to Assistant United States Attorney John Gurganus, who prosecuted the case, the evidence presented at trial established that on October 30, 2010, Shabazz and two other people entered the M & T Bank brandishing weapons, including pistols and 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. Shabazz and the other robbers then left the bank with more than $17,000, got into a vehicle being driven by a co-conspirator, and traveled to New York.

The trial evidence established that after Shabazz was identified as one of the robbers, he was arrested on December 30, 2010, transporting three firearms (including the short-barreled shotgun he had brandished in the bank robbery) across state lines with the intent to use those weapons in the commission of a home invasion robbery in Luzerne County.

In noting the jury’s guilty verdict on all counts and the judge’s sentence of life imprisonment, Mr. Smith praised the efforts of the FBI, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Hanover Township Police Department for their diligent efforts in pursuing this case.

Scranton Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Bank Robbery

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Senior United States District Judge A. Richard Caputo sentenced Micheal Massey, age 24, formerly of Scranton, to serve 60 months in prison for his role in committing an armed bank robbery.

According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, Massey previously entered a guilty plea before Senior Judge Caputo and admitted to his involvement in an armed bank robbery, which occurred on May 17, 2011, at the First Liberty Bank and Trust on Wyoming Avenue in Scranton. Another individual, Lee Meyers, age 23, also of Scranton, was previously sentenced to 42 months is prison by Senior Judge Caputo after entering a guilty plea in which Meyers admitted to participating in the same bank robbery. After the commission of the robbery, Massey and Meyers were apprehended by the Pennsylvania State Police in Crawford County on May 27, 2011, after leading police on a high-speed vehicle chase.

In addition, Senior Judge Caputo ordered that Massey be supervised by a probation officer for three years after serving his prison sentence. Massey was also sentenced to pay restitution in the amount of $15,089.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Scranton Police Department. U.S. Attorney Smith noted that the case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara.