MONROE COUNTY BANK ROBBER SENTENCED TO 37 MONTHS IN PRISON

Dennis C. Pfannenschmidt, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, announced that a Florida man who took a stolen pick-up truck from Florida to Pennsylvania, and participated in the robbery of the Keystone National Bank and Trust in Broadheadsville on January 6, 2009, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Court Judge James M. Munley to serve 37 months in federal prison.

Pfannenschmidt stated that Derrick James, age 23, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting a bank robbery and aiding and abetting the interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle. James admitted that he and two other people planned to rob the bank and drew straws to determine who would enter the bank. A co-defendant drove James and Kelly Lobdell to the bank to commit the robbery. The three men drove away with approximately $3,000 in cash taken from the bank.

James was charged with committing the offenses in a superseding information filed by the United States Attorney’s Office on June 3, 2009. The charges resulted from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Pennsylvania State Police, and Florida law enforcement authorities. James’ two co-defendants, Timothy McGlothlin and Kelly Lobdell, previously pleaded guilty to participating in the crimes. McGlothlin was sentenced to 63 months in prison for his role in the bank robbery. Lobdell is awaiting sentencing.

Judge Munley also ordered James to serve three years of supervised release after serving his prison sentence, and to pay a special assessment of $200. James must also pay his share of $6,785 in restitution.

Pfannenschmidt noted that the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa.

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