The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that two Reading men pleaded guilty today before Senior United States District Judge James M. Munley to aiding and abetting an armed bank robbery.

     According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, Quamaine Irvin Smith-Tisdale, age 23, and Justin Allen Smith, age 21, both of Reading, Pennsylvania, admitted to participating in an armed bank robbery which occurred at the Union Bank and Trust located in West Brunswick Township, Schuylkill County, on April 18, 2011. After the commission of the robbery, Smith-Tisdale, Smith, and a third man, Orlando Velez, Jr., age 23, also of Reading, were apprehended by the Pennsylvania State police after leading police on a high-speed vehicle chase.

     Smith-Tisdale and Smith face a maximum penalty of twenty-five years in prison, followed by a five-year term of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

     United States Attorney Smith noted that the charges against Orlando Velez, Jr., are still pending.

     The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara.

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