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Press Release

Hamilton Man Sentenced To 195 Months For Bank Robbery, Owning Child Pornography

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Ohio

CINCINNATI – Shane E. Bowlin, 39, of Hamilton, Ohio, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 195 months in prison for bank robbery, attempted bank robbery and possession of child pornography.

Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Steven Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, Barbara L. McQuade, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, David J. Hickton, United States Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and John Barrios, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Acting Special Agent in Charge, Cincinnati Division, announced the sentenced handed down today by U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Black.

On or about June 20, 2013, Bowlin robbed a Fifth Third Bank in Lambertville, Mich.  During that robbery he utilized a dangerous weapon. Later that month, he attempted to rob a Citizens Bank in Verona, Pa. and successfully robbed a PNC Bank in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. In July, he robbed the Delaware County Bank and Trust Company in Galena, Ohio.

In July, investigators discovered a large amount of cash in a hotel room occupied by Bowlin and in his vehicle. They also uncovered dye-stained money and disposable gloves tying him to the Lambertville robbery. During the search, officers also discovered approximately 1700 images and 55 videos depicting child pornography in a thumb drive and on a laptop computer.

Bowlin pleaded guilty to three counts of bank robbery, including the Michigan robbery which was originally filed in the Eastern District of Michigan and transferred to the Southern District of Ohio. He also pleaded guilty to one count of attempted bank robbery and possession of child pornography.

Bowlin was also sentenced to 5 years supervised release with a lifetime of registration as a sexual offender.

U.S. Attorney Stewart commended the cooperative investigation by the FBI, Sharonville Police Department, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, Cuyahoga Falls Police Department, Canal Fulton Police Department, Monroe County, Mich. Sheriff’s Office, and Penn Hills, Pa. Police Department, as well as Criminal Chief Kenneth L. Parker, who is representing the United States in this case. 

Updated July 23, 2015