Judge Sentences Disguised Bank Robber To 15 Years In Prison
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Acting United States Attorney Robert S. Cessar announced today, April 7, 2010, that William Arthur Bishop, a resident of Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court in Pittsburgh to 188 months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release on his conviction of bank robbery.
Senior United States District Judge Alan N. Bloch imposed the sentence on Bishop, age 38.
According to information presented to the court by Assistant United States Attorney Almon S. Burke, Jr., on October 13, 2009, Bishop, wearing a disguise of a wig, hat and glasses, robbed the Citizens Bank located 6125 Saltsburg Road, Verona, Pennsylvania of $2,274.00. Bishop fled the bank only to have the dye pack explode on him as he approached his getaway vehicle. The explosion knocked Bishop's disguise off and forced him to drop the stolen money.
Prior to imposing the maximum guideline sentence, Judge Bloch remarked that Bishop had an extensive and serious criminal history, and described Bishop as "dangerous and a recidivist".
Mr. Cessar commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Penn Hills Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Bishop.
