A Beaver County man confessed to robbing four banks across Western Pennsylvania of more than $26,000, federal prosecutors said.
Patrick Acierno, 34, of Freedom pleaded guilty to four counts of bank robbery. The banks were robbed between September 2018 and March of this year, U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady said.
On March 5, Acierno walked into a KeyBank branch on Harmony Drive in Ingomar wearing a black sweatshirt, black mask, sunglasses and blue latex gloves, prosecutors said. He made off with $7,743 — including eight $20 “bait bills.”
A teller spotted Acierno get into a blue Toyota Rav 4. Franklin Park police found the vehicle and arrested Acierno following a brief vehicle chase, prosecutors said. They found the stolen money and marked bills inside his car.
Acierno also admitted to robbing three other banks in the fall and early winter:
• On Sept. 12, Acierno entered a PNC Bank branch along Route 19 in Cranberry with an Adidas duffel bag and made off with $2,474.
• On Nov. 12, Acierno robbed the West View Savings bank on Brandt School Road in the North Hills of about $4,406.
• On Dec. 5, Acierno walked into a WesBanco branch on Broadhead Road in Monaca, Beaver County, and made off with about $11,800.
Acierno wore different clothes to conceal his face and hands at each bank.
Acierno faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. He will remain behind bars until his sentencing, scheduled for Oct. 17.
