ROCHESTER, N.Y.--U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Jonathan A. Karcher, 21, of Penn Yan, N.Y., pleaded guilty to attempting to extort money from the Lyons National Bank in Penn Yan before U.S. District Judge David G. Larimer. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Everardo A. Rodriguez, who is handling the case, stated that on June 5, 2013, an individual called the manager of Lyons National Bank and demanded that the manager take $15,000 in cash and leave it by a dumpster behind the Rite Aid store across the street from the bank. During that conversation, the individual threatened the bank manager by informing her that he had information about the manager’s residence and children. The same date, an individual drove to the area of Lyons National Bank and parked in the Rite Aid parking lot across the street. An individual later walked by the dumpster behind the store to determine if the $15,000 had been left there as he had directed the branch manager to do.
Subsequent investigation by the FBI and Penn Yan Police Department determined the individual was Jonathan Karcher. Investigators tracked the defendant down through the analysis of records tied to the cellular telephone used in the call to the bank.
The plea is the culmination of a joint investigation on the part of the Penn Yan Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Hulse, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 23, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. before Judge Larimer.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
