Grand Rapids, Michigan – September 20, 2006 – United States Attorney Margaret M. Chiara announced that Jerry Allen Hart, age 44, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, was sentenced today to 48 months in federal prison for the robbery of the Educational Community Credit Union at 1551 South 9th Street in Kalamazoo, Michigan and the robbery of the Fifth Third Bank at 4109 Portage Road, also in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on March 29, 2006. The Honorable Robert Holmes Bell presided over the sentencing.

Mr. Hart pled guilty on June 8, 2006 to the two-count Indictment, which charged him with credit union robbery and bank robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(a). Mr. Hart was arrested on March 30, 2006, a day after entering the Educational Community Credit Union and the Fifth Third Bank, handing each teller a demand note and taking approximately $1,890.00 from the credit union and $7,430.00 from the bank before fleeing the scene in his car, which was later identified by Mr. Hart’s wife. The deposits of Educational Community Credit Union are insured by the National Credit Union Administration Board, while the deposits of Fifth Third Bank are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

In addition to the 48-month term of imprisonment, Chief Judge Bell ordered Mr. Hart to make restitution to both Educational Community Credit Union and Fifth Third Bank. The court also ordered that Mr. Hart serve a three-year period of supervised release following his prison term.

Ms. Chiara expressed her appreciation to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for its work in the case. This case was prosecuted on behalf of the United States of America by Assistant United States Attorney Elisa Castrolugo.