Cincinnati Man Sentenced to 437 Months in Prison For Northern Kentucky Bank Robbery and Weapons Charges

COVINGTON, KY—Jessie Monghan, 36, of Cincinnati, Ohio was sentenced today to 437 months in prison by Judge David Bunning for his role in a violent bank robbery in Northern Kentucky Monghan is currently serving a sentence for two armed bank robberies in Ohio. The combination of the sentences in Ohio and Northern Kentucky add up to an 837 month sentence.

Judge Bunning sentenced Monghan for bank robbery, use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Monghan was convicted of the Kentucky robbery after a three-day trial in November of 2008. The evidence at trial established that Monghan, a convicted felon, robbed the Huntington Bank in Ft. Wright, Kentucky on July 27, 2005. Monghan holds a prior conviction of assault with a firearm in 1993.

Randall Sutton, convicted in earlier proceedings in Ohio, also took part in the robbery.

He is currently serving a sentence of more than 400 months in Ohio. A third defendant, Ronald Sutton, assisted in the Ohio bank robberies but not in the one in Kentucky. He is serving a 20 year sentence in Ohio as well.

Monghan and Randall Sutton stole approximately $10,046.00 from the Huntington Bank. Both Monghan and Sutton brandished firearms at the tellers, cursed them, and threatened to shootp them. The evidence also established that Sutton pistol-whipped one of the bank tellers during the robbery. The individuals also robbed the Guardian Savings Bank and Union Savings Bank in Ohio of a $5,600.

“This sentencing brings a close to the prosecution of a group of the most violent bank robbers who operated in this area in recent memory,” said Assistant United States Attorney Tony Bracke who prosecuted the case.

“Mr. Monghan and his partners caused serious injuries to the tellers at these banks,” said Bracke. “We are not going to tolerate criminals using guns to further their criminal behavior.”

Federal law states that brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a robbery will result in an automatic seven year sentence for the first offense and an additional 25 years for every time after that. Therefore, Monghan received 57 years for brandishing a firearm during all three of the robberies.

Under federal law, Monghan will have to serve at least 85 percent of his prison sentence before release. He will serve five years of supervised release after completion of his sentence.

Bracke also commented on the efforts of investigators that helped bring the defendants to justice.

“It took several law enforcement entities to help bring this case to fruition,” said Bracke. “The FBI collaborated with the Cincinnati Police Department and the Ft. Wright Police Department to develop strong cases against the participants that ultimately led to lengthy sentences for the defendants.

James A. Zerhusen, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, made the announcement today after Monghan was sentenced. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Cincinnati Police Department, and the Ft. Wright Police Department. The United States was represented in the trial by Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin G. Dusing and Anthony J. Bracke.