Rochester Man Arrested, Charged with Bank Robbery

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Robert Stevenson, 57, of Rochester, New York, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with bank robbery. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael L. McCabe, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on June 11, 2012, the defendant entered the First Niagara Bank at 2853 Delaware Avenue in Kenmore, New York. Stevenson then approached a bank teller and handed her a note which stated, “$100.00’s and $50.00’s.” The bank-teller looked at the defendant, and Stevenson tapped his waistband and made a noise and gesture which the bank teller inferred to mean that the defendant had a weapon. The bank teller then gave the defendant $3,600 in United States currency and Stevenson left the bank.

The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the Irondequoit Police Department, under the direction of Chief Richard Boyan; the Kenmore Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Peter J. Breitnauer; the New Hartford Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael S. Inserra; the Town of Ellicott Police Department, under the direction of Chief William L. Ohnmeiss, Jr.; the Syracuse Police Department, under the direction of Chief Frank L. Fowler; the Utica Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark W. Williams; the Rochester Police Department, under the direction Chief James Sheppard; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Albany Division, under the direction of acting Special Agent in Charge George Piro; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Buffalo Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher M. Piehota.

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.