Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Robbery

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Michael Bland, 18, of Buffalo, N.Y., pleaded guilty to bank robbery, before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000,00 fine or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Catherine Baumgarten, who is handling the case, stated that Bland robbed three M&T Banks located at 1300 Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo, 750 Main Street in Niagara Falls, and 1877 Main Street in Buffalo, between August 21, 2013 and September 4, 2013.

The indictments are the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Buffalo Police Department, of under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda, and the Niagara Falls Police Department, under the direction of Chief Bryan DalPorto.