Pittsburgh Man Pleads Guilty to Three Area Bank Robberies
| U.S. Attorney’s Office June 30, 2009 |
United States Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan announced today, June 30, 2009, that Carl Saunders, a resident of Pittsburgh, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of bank robbery and armed bank robbery.
Saunders, age 40, pleaded guilty to five counts before Senior United States District Judge Maurice B. Cohill.
In connection with the guilty plea, Assistant United States Attorney Ross E. Lenhardt advised the court that Saunders robbed the National City Bank, located at 4764 Baum Boulevard, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on or about May 18, 2007; the National City Bank, located at 3474 William Penn Highway, Wilkins Township, Pennsylvania, on or about July 13, 2007; and the Citizens Bank, located at 2801 East Carson Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on or about July 19, 2007. The indictment charges that Saunders used a replica handgun in the first two robberies.
Senior Judge Cohill scheduled sentencing for September 30, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 110 years in prison, a fine of $1,250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the criminal history of the defendant.
The court remanded the defendant to jail to await his sentencing.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, the Wilkins Township Police Department and the Monroeville Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Carl Saunders.