Serial Bank Robber Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

Dennis C. Pfannenschmidt, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, announced today that United States District Court Judge A. Richard Caputo has sentenced Adam John Verdekal, age 29, of Hanover Township, Pennsylvania, to 10 years’ imprisonment for his robbery of six banks in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania

In July, 2009, Verdekal pleaded guilty to committing the robbery of the following banks:

January 5, 2009 - Honesdale National Bank, Kingston, Pennsylvania;
January 12, 2009 - FNCB, Hanover Township, Pennsylvania;
January 20, 2009 - Honesdale National Bank, Kingston, Pennsylvania;
January 28, 2009 - First Liberty Bank and Trust, Edwardsville, Pennsylvania;
February 5, 2009 - Cross-Valley Federal Credit Union, Forty-Fort, Pennsylvania; and
February 11, 2009 - Honesdale National Bank, Kingston, Pennsylvania;

During two of the robberies, Verdekal brandished a knife and demanded cash. On February 11, 2009, a Kingston Police Detective, assisted by the Honesdale National Bank security director, apprehended Adam John Verdekal shortly after the robbery of the Honesdale National Bank in Kingston. Subsequently, Verdekal admitted to committing the robberies in order to obtain money for a heroin addiction.

The conviction of Verdekal was the result of a coordinated investigative effort by the FBI, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Kingston Police Department, the Hanover Township Police Department, the Plymouth Police Department, the Edwardsville Police Department, the Swoyersville Police Department, and the Forty Fort Police Department.

United States Attorney Pfannenschmidt noted that parole has been abolished, and the defendant will be required to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence, assuming he receives full time off for good behavior while incarcerated. In addition to his sentence of imprisonment, Judge Caputo further ordered the defendant to be supervised by a Probation Officer for five years after serving his jail term.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Gurganus prosecuted the case.