Armed Bank Robber and Drug Trafficker Gets 37 Years in Prison

PHILADELPHIA—Ronald Hills, 44, of Philadelphia, was sentenced today to 444 months in prison for armed bank robbery, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, drug trafficking, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Hills robbed the National Penn Bank, at 9 West Evergreen Avenue in Chestnut Hill, on September 18, 2008. He was armed with a gun during the robbery. The sentence includes a five-year mandatory minimum for the defendant’s drug trafficking offense, a seven-year mandatory minimum for the count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and a 25-year mandatory minimum for the conviction for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Hills had two separate trials—one for the bank robbery and related gun charge, and a second for the drug trafficking and related gun charges. He was convicted of all charges by each jury.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul G. Shapiro.