Rochester Man Charged With Bank Robbery

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y.—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Jerry Little, 44, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with bank robbery. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett A. Harvey, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on August 15, 2015, the defendant entered First Niagara Bank branch located at 2255 Eastridge Road in Rochester. Little approached a bank teller, displayed a note which read “this is a robbery,” and told the teller to give him everything in the top drawer. The teller gave the defendant two envelopes with a specific amount of money in them. Little then fled the scene.

The defendant was apprehended on August 19, 2015 after a member of the community recognized Little from a photograph of the robbery suspect that was issue to the public.

The defendant made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson and is being detained. Little is due back in court on October 15, 2015, at 9:00 a.m.    

The complaint is the culmination of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Irondequoit Police Department, under the direction of Chief Richard V. Tantalo, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Craig Hanesworth, the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, under the direction of Acting Commissioner Anthony J. Annucci, and the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Ciminelli.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.