SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Christian Gonzalez, age 23, and Anthony Ocasio, age 21, both of Scranton, Pennsylvania, were charged on March 28, 2017, in a superseding indictment by a federal grand jury for multiple counts of bank robbery.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the superseding indictment alleges that Gonzalez and Ocasio committed the following three bank robberies together:

• January 12, 2017, Citizens Savings Bank, Cedar Avenue, Scranton, approximately $2,000 stolen;

• December 27, 2016, NBT Bank, Wyoming Avenue, Kingston, approximately $2,550 stolen; and

• December 22, 2016, Fidelity Bank, Birney Avenue, Moosic (attempt).

Gonzalez alone is charged with the following bank robbery:

• December 5, 2016, NBT Bank, Keyser Avenue, Scranton, approximately $7,000 stolen.

This investigation is ongoing and being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Scranton Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Olshefski is prosecuting the case.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law for these offense is 80 years in prison for Gonzalez, 60 years in prison for Ocasio, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

# # #