Rockford Man Sentenced To 62 Months In Federal Prison For Bank Robbery

ROCKFORD — A Rockford man was sentenced today in federal court for bank robbery.  PEDRO J. CORDERO, 52, of Rockford, Ill., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Frederick J. Kapala to 62 months in federal prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, for the robbery of BMO Harris Bank, N.A., 2510 S. Alpine Rd., Rockford, Ill., on July 12, 2014.  Cordero was also ordered to pay restitution to the bank.  

Cordero pleaded guilty to the charge on Oct. 3, 2014.  According to the written plea agreement, on July 12, 2014, Cordero, wearing an inside out San Antonio Spurs baseball cap and carrying a white and blue Kane County Cougars umbrella, robbed BMO Harris Bank.  The next day, Cordero was stopped by the Rockford Police for a traffic violation.  In his car, Cordero possessed the San Antonio Spurs baseball hat he had worn and the blue and white Kane County Cougars umbrella that he had carried the previous day during the BMO Harris Bank robbery, as well as $10,000 in U.S. currency from the bank robbery.

In addition, Cordero admitted in the plea agreement to robbing the U.S. Bank located at 1107 East State St., Rockford, Ill., on May 8, 2014, and the Associated Bank located at 4400 Center Terrace, Rockford, Ill., on June 2, 2014.  The court ordered that Cordero pay full restitution to those banks as well.

The sentencing was announced by Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Robert J. Holley, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Chet Epperson, Chief of the Rockford Police Department.

The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott R. Paccagnini.