SCRANTON—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani sentenced Frank McBride, age 29, of Scranton, to 110 months’ imprisonment. McBride pled guilty in March 2015 to bank robbery and attempted bank robbery, and Hobbs Act robbery (interference with commerce by threats or violence).

According to U.S. Attorney Peter Smith, the charges stemmed from an FBI investigation initiated in June of 2014 after a series of attempted bank robberies in Lackawanna County. A similar scheme was used in each attempted bank robbery and McBride was identified as the perpetrator after review of video surveillance from bank locations and analysis of cell phone records. Law enforcement later learned that McBride was responsible for robberies at gas stations/convenience stores in Scranton and Moosic.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Mariani also ordered that McBride be supervised by a probation officer for three years following his release from prison, and ordered him to make restitution in the amount of $9,829.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle L. Olshefski.