SCRANTON – A brazen armed bank robbery shook the community in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, as two men, Gerald Pambianco, 29, of Plains Township, and Derek Spaide, 26, of Hanover Township, were indicted on May 22, 2018, by a federal grand jury on multiple charges.
The indictment alleges that on May 16, 2018, Pambianco and Spaide traveled to the Luzerne National Bank in Plains Township, where Spaide entered the bank, wearing a t-shirt over his face, pointed a rifle at a bank employee, and demanded money, stealing approximately $8,204. The duo then fled the scene in a vehicle driven by Pambianco.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the investigation revealed that Pambianco and Spaide engaged in a high-speed vehicle chase with police following the robbery.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Plains Township Police Department, and the Hanover Township Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and making neighborhoods safer for everyone.
The indictment charges Gerald Pambianco and Derek Spaide with:
- Conspiracy to use firearms in furtherance of a crime of violence
- Armed bank robbery
- Brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence
- Being convicted felons in possession of firearms
Pambianco and Spaide face a maximum penalty of 25 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $250,000 fine for the armed bank robbery charge. The charge of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence carries a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years, consecutive to any other sentence.
The federal sentencing guidelines will be considered in determining the potential sentence for Pambianco and Spaide. The statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Violent CrimeViolent CrimeViolent CrimeViolent Crime