New Castle Man Charged in Six Area Bank and Convenience Store Robberies

PITTSBUGRH - One resident of New Castle, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating the federal robbery laws, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.

The six-count indictment, returned on Nov. 30, named Eric Barbati, age 32, as the sole defendant.

According to the indictment, on August 26, 2017, Eric Barbati robbed the BFS Foods Convenience Store, located at 1509 Wilmington Road, New Castle, PA 16105, of $292.00. Barbati then robbed 2 other convenience stores, the Red Apple Convenience Store (on August 31, 2017), located at 1010 Wilmington Avenue, New Castle, PA 16101, of $242.00; and the Market 24 Convenience Store (on September 4, 2017 and again on September 17, 2017), located at 719 W. Washington Street, New Castle, PA 16101, of $170.00 and $117.00. On September 5, 2017, Barbati also robbed the PNC Bank, located at 2470 E. State Street, Hermitage, PA 16148, of $2,702.00, and on September 11, 2017, he robbed the Huntington Bank, located at 108 S. Market Street , New Castle, PA 16142, of $1,641.00.

Barbati faces a total maximum sentence of not more than 20 years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000, or both at each count. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Timothy M. Lanni is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hermitage Police Department, the New Wilmington Borough Police Department, the New Castle Police Department, and the Neshannock Township Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.