Cumberland Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Three Armed Bank Robberies

BALTIMORE, MD—U.S. District Judge Marvin J. Garbis sentenced John Allen Talerico, age 50, of Cumberland, Maryland, to nine years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for three armed bank robberies. Judge Garbis also ordered Talerico to pay restitution of $31,206.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Stephen E. Vogt of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Cumberland Police Chief Charles H. Hinnant; Allegany County Sheriff Craig Robertson; Frostburg Police Chief Royce C. Douty; Colonel Marcus L. Brown, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; and Allegany County State’s Attorney Michael O. Twigg of the Combined County Criminal Investigations Unit (C3I).

According to his plea agreement, between March 11, 2011 and September 13, 2011, Talerico committed three armed bank robberies in Cumberland, Maryland. During each robbery, Talerico entered the bank, approached the teller, and asked about opening an account and then pointed what appeared to be a large black semi-automatic handgun at the teller and demanded money. After the tellers gave Talerico cash, he threatened them and demanded more money from the tellers and then fled the bank. On one occasion, when a customer entered the bank during the robbery, Talerico pointed the gun at the customer, telling the customer to “get out of the way.” During the robberies, Talerico wore distinctive clothing, including a knit hat with a brim and large framed glasses.

Specifically, on March 11 and September 13, 2011, Talerico robbed the M&T Bank located at 1150 Industrial Boulevard, and on June 24, 2011, Talerico robbed the Susquehanna Bank located at 600 West Industrial Boulevard, all in Cumberland. Talerico obtained a total of approximately $31,206 from the three bank robberies.

The robberies were captured on bank surveillance video. During a search warrant executed at Talerico’s home on March 30, 2012, numerous articles of clothing matching those worn by the bank robber in the surveillance photos were seized.

According to court documents and testimony at today’s sentencing hearing, Talerico committed two additional robberies. On December 23, 2010, Talerico robbed the First Commonwealth Bank, in the 8400 block of William Penn Highway, in Osterburg, Pennsylvania, stealing approximately $4,506. On March 16, 2012, Talerico pretended to “test drive” a used car from a dealer whom he knew, driving the car to Fort Ashby, West Virginia, where he robbed the BB&T Bank, stealing approximately $7,481.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the FBI, C3I, Cumberland Police Department, Allegany County Sheriff’s Office, Frostburg Police Department, Maryland State Police, and Allegany County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and thanked the Mineral County (West Virginia) Sheriff’s Office and Pennsylvania State Police for their assistance. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul E. Budlow and Mark W. Crooks, who prosecuted the case.