Marcus Akiem Ricketts, 37, of Boyertown, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty yesterday to four armed bank robberies in Pennsylvania and using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence. Ricketts was charged, federally, with four robberies: on June 8, 2010, at the Sovereign Bank located at 258 East High Street, Pottstown, Pennsylvania; on January 24, 2012, at the Citizens Bank, located at 209 Lancaster Avenue, Devon, Pennsylvania; on April 12, 2012, at the First Niagara Bank, located at 502 State Avenue, Emmaus, Pennsylvania; and on July 2, 2012, at the Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company (M&T Bank), formerly located at 760 North Pottstown Pike in Exton, Pennsylvania. In addition to those robberies, Ricketts pleaded guilty to seven others. The banks were located in Bucks, Berks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, and Montgomery Counties. Ricketts admitted to committing 11 total bank robberies, six of which were pending investigation.

Ricketts faces 25 years in prison, including a seven-year mandatory term, five years of supervised release, a fine of up to a $1.25 million, a $500 special assessment, and restitution of approximately $194,436. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 17, 2014.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Chester County Sheriff’s Department, the Chester County Detectives, and the police departments for Easttown Township, Emmaus, Lower Merion, Pottstown, Uwchlan, Shillington Township, Warminster, and West Whiteland, Pennsylvania. In addition, the District Attorney’s offices for the counties of Berks, Bucks, Chester, Lehigh, and Montgomery were also involved in the investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jeffery W. Whitt and Jessica Natali.