Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty To Bank Robbery

CONTACT:      BARBARA BURNS               
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BUFFALO, N.Y.--U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul announced today that Ronald McClendon, Jr., 27, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty to bank robbery before Chief U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or both.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Catherine Baumgarten, on July 5, 2013, McClendon drove Adlyn Marie Echevarria Robles to the M&T Bank at 1580 Hertel Avenue in Buffalo. Robles entered the bank, passed the teller a demand note for money, and threatened that she had a bomb. The teller handed over money to Robles who exited the bank and was driven from the scene by McClendon.

On July 24, 2013, the defendant drove Robles to the M&T Bank at 709 Elmwood Avenue in Buffalo. Again, Robles entered the bank, passed the teller a demand note for money, and threatened that she had a bomb. The teller handed over money to Robles, who exited the bank and was driven from the scene by McClendon.

Robles was convicted of bank robbery and sentenced to 24 months in prison.

The plea is the culmination of an investigation by the Federal bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force.

Ronald McClendon, Jr. is scheduled to be sentenced on April 29, 2014 at 9:00 a.m.  before Judge Skretny.