NICK JAMES SWAGERTY, 34, of Tacoma, Washington was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to fifty months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for Bank Robbery.

In February 2004, SWAGERTY told officials at the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla, Washington that he wanted to confess to a bank robbery that he committed in Tacoma on May 13, 2003. On that date a man matching SWAGERTY’s description entered the HomeStreet Bank branch on South 23rd Street in Tacoma and shouted at the teller to give him the money. The robber left with about $580. SWAGERTY provided the FBI with information about the robbery that had not been made public. Surveillance photos confirm SWAGERTY was the robber.

SWAGERTY pleaded guilty on April 26, 2006. SWAGERTY has three prior felony convictions for Assault. In 1999 he assaulted a Corrections Officer in Mason County. In 1995 he was convicted of assaulting a corrections officer in Clallam County. In 2003 he was convicted of assault for fighting with a store clerk after stealing beer. In 1997 he was convicted of Burglary for entering and damaging a mausoleum in Clallam County.

Based on his criminal history, SWAGERTY faced an advisory range under the United States Sentencing Guidelines of 63-78 months of imprisonment. The government agreed with the defense, however, that SWAGERTY deserved a significant reduction in time for having turned himself in for the crime, and jointly recommended the lower sentence to the court.

The case was investigated by the FBI and Tacoma Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gregory A. Gruber.

For additional information please contact Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney’s Office, at (206) 553-4110.

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