United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian announced today that two Utica area men have pled guilty to committing a string of bank robberies.
ZACHARIAH EDWARDS, 21, of Frankfort, and NICHOLAS FERRONE, 21, of Utica, admitted robbing:
Chase Bank, 6004 Court Street, Syracuse, New York of $2,156 on Jan. 14, 2013; Berkshire Bank, 2080 Western Avenue, Guilderland, New York of $2,566 on Jan. 23, 2013;
Chase Bank, 4425 East Genesee Street, Dewitt, New York of $4,680.75 on Jan. 28, 2013; Trustco Bank, 2050 Western Avenue, Guilderland, New York of $1,930 on Feb. 13, 2013;
Bank of America, 638 Memorial Drive, Chicopee, Massachusetts of $3,300 on Feb. 25, 2013;
Key Bank, 1610 Eastern Parkway, Schenectady, New York of $3,700 on March 1, 2013; and M&T Bank, 5170 West Taft Road, Syracuse, New York of $3,446 on March 4, 2013.
In addition, FERRONE admitted to a robbery of the Alliance Bank at 142 Genesee Street, Oneida, New York of $2,240 on Jan. 3, 2013. Although no weapons were displayed the robbers told the tellers they were armed during the course of several of the robberies.
EDWARDS has been held without bail since his arrest on March 8, 2013. FERRONE has likewise been held without bail since his arrest on March 11, 2013. They will both continue to be detained until their sentencing which is scheduled for Oct. 1, 2013 before Senior U.S. District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. Bank robbery carries a maximum penalty of twenty years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 on each count.
The investigation has been a multi-agency effort, including participation by the Dewitt Police Department, the New York State Police, the Guilderland Police Department, the Oneida Police Department, the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, Chicopee, Massachusetts Police Department, Schenectady Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by AUSA Edward R. Broton.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
