A Cleveland man was sentenced to 55 years in prison for committing three armed robberies, said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, and Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Cleveland Office.

Eric Gooch, 24, was convicted by a jury this summer on multiple counts, including conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, use of a firearm during commission of a felony, armed bank robbery and Hobbs Act robbery.

Gooch conspired with others to rob Rose’s Discount Store in Cleveland, Ohio. On January 21, 2013, Gooch and others entered and robbed the Rose’s Discount Store, and during the robbery, a firearm was brandished. Gooch robbed the PNC Bank at 16614 Harvard Avenue in Cleveland on Feb. 22, 2013, and the PNC Bank at 2771 South Moreland Boulevard in Cleveland on March 13, 2013. A firearm was brandished during each bank robbery, according to trial testimony.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle M. Baeppler and M. Kendra Klump following an investigation by the FBI and Cleveland Division of Police.