Syracuse Man Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison for Committing Five Bank Robberies

ROCHESTER, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that James Nicholson, 34, who was convicted of bank robbery, was sentenced to 57 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci. Judge Geraci also ordered Nicholson to pay restitution in the amount of $94,393, representing the total amount of cash taken during the five robberies.

Nicholson and co-defendant Brandon Rothenburgh robbed the following banks between June 18, 2012 and August 30, 2012:

• First Niagara Bank in Gates, New York, on June 18, 2012
• Citizens Bank in Gates, New York, on July 12, 2012
• First Niagara Bank in Gates, New York (again), on August 7, 2012
• M&T Bank in Rome, New York, on July 24, 2012
• Bank of America in Auburn, New York, on August 30, 2012

Rothenburgh was also convicted of bank robbery and sentenced to 165 months in prison in February 2013.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Everardo A. Rodriguez, who handled the case, Nicholson and Rothenburgh wore masks when they entered the banks. One or the other would then vault over the teller counter and demand cash from the tellers before jumping back over the counter and exiting the bank.

“This case involved one of the finest examples of teamwork,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “In addition to the fine work of multiple federal, state, and local agencies, I commend the hard work of the Gates Police Department, under the direction of Chief David DiCaro, for its efforts in bringing this prosecution to a successful conclusion.”

The sentencing is the result of a joint investigation by the Gates Police Department, under the direction of Chief David DiCaro; the Federal Bureau of Investigation Rochester Resident Agency, Buffalo Field Office, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Richard Frankel; the FBI Syracuse Resident Agency, Albany Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Clifford Holly; the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Mark Koss; the Geddes Police Department, under the direction of Victor Gillette; the Auburn Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Neagle; the Syracuse Police Department, under the direction of Chief Frank Fowler; the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision; and the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Kevin Walsh. Also assisting in the investigation was the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, under the direction of U.S. Attorney Richard Hartunian.