Man Indicted for Four Armed Bank Robberies

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an Indictment charging Michael C. Makolinski, 30, of Buffalo, New York, with four counts of armed bank robbery, four counts of illegally entering a bank with the intent to commit a larceny while armed with a dangerous weapon or device, and four counts of armed bank larceny. Each charge carries a penalty of 25 years in prison and $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Maigret, who is handling the case, stated that the indictment is the result of an extensive investigation conducted by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and New York State Police investigators over the last three-and-a-half years. Makolinski is accused of robbing the Bank of America, on Main Street in Batavia, New York, on November 7, 2007; the Fairport Savings Bank, on Hudson Avenue in Irondequoit, NY, on November 16, 2007; the First Niagara Bank, on Center Street in Lewiston, New York, on November 27, 2007; and the Evans National Bank, on Delaware Avenue in Buffalo, New York, on December 5, 2007. During each of the robberies, the defendant was armed with and brandished what appeared to be a firearm.

U.S. Attorney Hochul stated, “The allegations in the indictment identify a number of bank robberies occurring in multiple Western New York Counties over approximately one month several years ago. I strongly credit the efforts of the Batavia, Buffalo, Cheektowaga, and Irondequoit Police Departments, as well as the FBI and New York State Police, for conducting such a wide ranging investigation. This case demonstrates how the community benefits when all levels of law enforcement work together.”

The Indictment is the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Richard W. Kollmar, and investigators from the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation. They were assisted in the investigation by officers from the Cheektowaga Police Department, the City of Batavia Police Department, the Irondequoit Police Department, and detectives from the Buffalo Police Department.

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.