Man Charged with Robbing Two Area Banks

United States Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan announced today that on February 19, 2009, Leonard Carl Smith, Jr. of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of bank robbery.

The two-count indictment named Smith, Jr., age 29, as the sole defendant.

According to the indictment, on January 27, 2009, Smith, Jr., robbed the First Commonwealth Bank located at 441 Smithfield Street in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. On February 2, 2009, Smith, Jr., robbed the Parkvale Bank located at 1970 Greentree Road, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Assistant United States Attorney Almon S. Burke, Jr., who presented the case to the grand jury, indicated that the law provides for a maximum total sentence of 40 years’ in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the City of Pittsburgh Police, and the Scott Township Police conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.