Getaway Driver Serfass Sentenced to 90 Months for Bank Robberies

SCRANTON – Crystal Serfass, 32, of Junedale, Carbon County, Pennsylvania, received a 90-month sentence from Senior United States District Judge James M. Munley for her role as getaway driver in a series of armed robberies. The sentencing followed Serfass’s guilty plea on May 4, 2016, in Federal Court in Scranton.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Serfass admitted to helping plan and act as the getaway driver for David Weaver, age 42, during the following armed robberies:

• Jim Thorpe National Bank, Penn Forest Township, Pennsylvania, on September 17, 2013;
• National Penn Bank, Drums, Pennsylvania, on August 8, 2014;
• Jim Thorpe Neighborhood Bank, Penn Forest Township, Pennsylvania, on November 18, 2014;
• ESSA Bank and Trust, Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania, on December 26, 2014;
• Dollar General, Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania, on November 16, 2014.

During each of these incidents, Weaver brandished a firearm to intimidate employees. He was sentenced to 121 months’ imprisonment by Judge Munley on October 5, 2016.

In addition to her prison term, Serfass was ordered to make full restitution of $22,046, which represented the money stolen during the robberies. The investigation into these crimes was conducted by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant United States Attorney John Gurganus handled the prosecution.

Crystal Serfass’s sentence underscores the severity of her role in the armed robberies, as a getaway driver is often considered just as culpable as the person committing the actual crime.