Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Robbery

          BUFFALO, N.Y.--U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Jason Berg, 22, Buffalo, N.Y., pleaded guilty to bank robbery before U.S. District Court Judge Richard J. Arcara. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. 
 
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Catherine Baumgarten, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant robbed the First Niagara Bank, located at 1000 Elmwood Avenue in Buffalo, on April 26, 2013. Berg then robbed the M&T Bank, located at 788 Tonawanda St. in Buffalo, on May 16, 2013 and the M&T Bank, located at 1580 Hertel Avenue in Buffalo, on June 12, 2013. The defendant passed notes to the bank tellers indicating he possessed a firearm and demanded specific amounts of money.
 
The plea is the result of a joint investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian P. Boetig, and the Niagara Falls Police Department, under the direction of Chief Bryan DalPorto.