McAlisterville Man Charged in the Robberies of Three Banks in Juniata and Snyder Counties

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Richard Lockett, the man allegedly responsible for the robberies at the First National Bank in Thompsontown Borough, the Juniata Valley Bank in the Borough of Port Royal, and the Swineford National Bank in the Village of Beaver Springs was charged in an indictment Wednesday.

According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, on October 22, 2012, the First National Bank located at 6 East Main Street in Thompsontown Borough, Pennsylvania, was robbed, and $6,058 was stolen from the bank. Five days later, on October 27, 2012, the Juniata Valley Bank located at Third and Market Streets in the Borough of Port Royal, Pennsylvania, was robbed, and $6,926 was stolen from the bank. On November 5, 2012, the Swineford National Bank located at 19680 Route 522 in the Village of Beaver Springs, Pennsylvania, was robbed and $8,660 was stolen from the bank. A Harrisburg federal grand jury indicted Richard Lockett, age 38, of McAlisterville, Pennsylvania, on three counts of bank robbery.

If convicted, Lockett faces a maximum of 60 years’ imprisonment and fines of up to $750,000.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police. Prosecution has been assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Daryl F. Bloom.

An indictment or information is not evidence of guilt but simply a description of the charge made by the grand jury and/or United States Attorney against a defendant. A charged defendant is presumed innocent until a jury returns a unanimous finding that the United States has proven the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt or until the defendant has pled guilty to the charges.