Syracuse Man Pleads Guilty to Committing Five Bank Robberies

ROCHESTER, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Brandon Rothenburgh, 34, of Syracuse, New York, pleaded guilty to committing five bank robberies before U.S. District Judge David G. Larimer.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, the defendant faces up to 188 months in jail and a $250,000 fine. Rothenburgh also agreed to repay a total of $94,393 in restitution, the amount taken from the banks during the robberies. He also agreed to the forfeiture of a quantity of cash and a Cadillac automobile which he purchased with the robbery proceeds.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Everardo A. Rodriguez, who is handling the case, stated that between June and August 2012, Rothenburgh robbed five banks:

• First Niagara Bank in Gates, New York on June 18, 2012;
• Citizens Bank in Gates, New York on July 12, 2012;
• First Niagara Bank in Gates, New York (again) on August 7, 2012;
• M&T Bank in Rome, New York on July 24, 2012; and
• Bank of America in Auburn, New York on August 30, 2012.

Rothenburgh was arrested in September 2012 along with co-conspirator James Nicholson. The defendants wore disguises and rubber gloves when they entered the banks. One or the other would then vault over the teller counter and demand cash from the tellers before jumping back over the counter and exiting the bank. Charges are pending against Nicholson.

U.S. Attorney William Hochul stated, “I want to thank the tremendous hard work of all of the agencies involved in this case. The public was well served by the team approach taken to solving this series of bank robberies which occurred throughout New York State.”

The prosecution is the result of a joint investigation by the Gates Police Department, under the direction of Chief David DiCaro; the Federal Bureau of Investigation Rochester Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher M. Piehota; the FBI Syracuse Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Clifford Holly; the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Mark Koss; the Geddes Police Department, under the direction of Victor Gillette; the Auburn Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Neagle; the Syracuse Police Department, under the direction of Chief Frank Fowler; the Oneida Indian Nation Police Department, under the direction of Chief Joseph Smith; the Rome Police Department, under the direction of Chief Kevin C. Beach; the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision; and the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Kevin Walsh. Also assisting in the investigation was the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, under the direction of U.S. Attorney Richard Hartunian.

Sentencing is scheduled for February 7, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Larimer.