June 30, 2015

Two Sentenced for Aiding Series of Bank and Business Robberies

SCRANTON—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Cindy Conden, age 29, of Hanover Township was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Senior Judge Richard P. Conaboy to 46 months’ imprisonment for aiding in the commission of multiple robberies.

Conden’s father, Charles Conden, age 48, also of Hanover Township, was sentenced by Judge Conaboy on June 23, 2015 to 84 months’ imprisonment. Both Cindy and Charles Conden pleaded guilty to the charges pursuant to plea agreements that were filed in February 2015.

According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, Jeffrey Townsley, age 43, Kingston, engaged in an 18-day crime spree beginning on December 24, 2013 and ending on January 10, 2014. The crimes included two bank robberies and seven robberies of local businesses. Townsley was arrested on January 10, 2014. He is currently serving a federal sentence of 151 months’ imprisonment imposed by Judge Conaboy on April 15, 2015.

Charles Conden aided Townsley in the robberies at Aldi’s Market in Kingston on January 7, 2014, Thomas’ Market in Larksville on January 8, 2014, and the Family Dollar in Ashley on January 10, 2014. Cindy Conden and James Hughes also aided Townsley in the commission of the Aldi’s robbery.

James Hughes, age 26, of Nanticoke, is scheduled to be sentenced on August 15, 2015. Hughes pleaded guilty pursuant to a plea agreement in May 2015 to aiding in the multiple robberies.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of police departments of Kingston, Kingston Township, Larksville, Hanover Township, Wilkes-Barre, Plains, and Ashley, and the Luzerne County District Attorney Detectives. Prosecution is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Olshefski.