Rochester Man Pleads Guilty To 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 James Bloom, 32, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to bank robbery before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward H. White, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant robbed four banks:

• January 6, 2014, Key Bank, 2929 Union Road, Cheektowaga, NY.
• January 30, 2014, Key Bank, 4248 Delaware Avenue, Tonawanda, NY
• February 10, 2014, Citizens Bank, 2040 George Urban Boulevard, Depew, NY.
• February 14, 2014, First Niagara Bank, 3488 Amelia Drive, Orchard Park, NY.

During each robbery, Bloom handed the teller a note referencing explosives. One note read “I’m wired and ready to blow.”  

The plea is the culmination of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Zack, the Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief Anthony Palombo, and the Orchard Park Police Department, under the direction of Mark Pacholec.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 30, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. before Judge Arcara.