Judge Sentences Erie Man to Eight Years in Prison for Multiple Bank Robberies

ERIE, PA—A resident of Erie, Pennsylvania has been sentenced in federal court to 97 months in jail on his conviction of bank robbery, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Senior United States District Judge Maurice B. Cohill, Jr. imposed the sentence on Jeffrey Kent Witscher, 47.

According to information presented to the court, on November 20, 2009, Witscher entered the Farmer’s National Bank, located at 1319 West Main Street, Grove City, Pennsylvania and presented a threatening demand note for money, but fled the bank prior to obtaining bank proceeds. Then on November 25, 2009, Witscher entered a PNC Bank, located at 5001 Peach Street, Erie, Pennsylvania, handed a threatening demand note to a teller and displayed a handgun. Witscher fled the bank after obtaining $5480.00. On December 8, 2009, Witscher entered the PNC bank located at 123 High Street, Waterford, Pennsylvania, again presented a threatening demand note and made it appear that he had a handgun. Witscher then fled the bank after obtaining $3384.00. On December 21, 2009, Witscher traveled to Ohio, entered the Andover Bank, located at 19 Public Square, Andover, Ohio, and fled after presenting a threatening demand note and obtaining $3,110.00. Finally, on December 30, 2009, Witscher entered the

Assistant United States Attorney Marshall J. Piccinini prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

U.S. Attorney Hickton commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Franklin Police Department, the Millcreek Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Andover, Ohio Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Witscher.