Assistant U.S Attorney Mary Catherine Baumgarten, who handled the case, stated that between October 2013 and January 9, 2014, Mitchell committed six bank robberies and aided another individual in committing a seventh robbery in the Buffalo and Rochester, NY areas.
In October 2013, the defendant planned then aided another individual in robbing the First Niagara Bank at 529 Elmwood Avenue in Buffalo on Oct. 23, 2013. Mitchell also committed the following robberies:
• Dec. 3, 2013, First Niagara Bank, 529 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo
• Dec. 16, 2013, First Niagara Bank, 805 Main Street, Niagara Falls
• Dec. 26, 2013, First Niagara Bank, 70 Lyell Avenue, Rochester
• Dec. 27, 2013, KeyBank, 201 Amherst Street, Buffalo
• Jan. 3, 2014, M&T Bank, 130 Grant Street, Buffalo
• January 9, 2014, First Niagara Bank, 1248 Abbott Road, Lackawanna
During each of the robberies, Mitchell passed a note to the teller demanding money and threatened the use of a weapon.
“While some bank robbery investigations may take a bit longer than others, this case demonstrates that eventually all who commit such crimes get caught," said U.S. Attorney Hochul.
Co-defendant Sheila L. Cassata pleaded guilty to bank robbery and will be sentenced on June 5, 2015 at 12:00 p.m.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force, the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda, the Lackawanna Police Department, under the direction of Chief James Michel, the Niagara Falls Police Department, under the direction of Chief Bryan DalPorto, and Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Ciminelli.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
