Woman Sentenced to Probation for Helping Her Bank Robbing Son Evade Law Enforcement

PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to a two-year term of probation on her conviction of assisting her bank robber son evade law enforcement, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan imposed the sentence on Melissa Kane, age 48.

According to information presented to the court, Kane knew that her son, Brent Richards, robbed the Citizens Bank located at 31 Foster Avenue in Pittsburgh, at gun point, on January 8, 2018. Following the armed bank robber, Kane assisted Richards evade law enforcement by allowing him to stay at her residence, disposing of the clothing worn by Richards and the BB gun that he used, and later denying any knowledge of or involvement in the bank robbery, when interviewed by law enforcement. The Court was further informed that Kane was engaged in a physical altercation with Richard’s former girlfriend, who Kane believed would tell law enforcement that Richards had robbed the bank.

Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

United States Attorney Brady commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Crafton Borough Police Department, the Allegheny County Sherriff’s Office, and the West Mifflin Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Kane.