WILKES-BARRE — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle), published as received.

WILKES-BARRE - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Timothy Fenster, age 31, of Plains Township, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Richard A. Caputo in Wilkes-Barre, to 92 months’ imprisonment for committing five bank robberies, and one robbery of a store.  The sentence imposed credited Fenster with 23 months already spent in prison while facing other state charges.  The Court ordered the remaining 92 months’ imprisonment term to commence today.      

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Fenster pleaded guilty today prior to his sentencing and admitted to committing the following armed robberies:

  • Community Bank, Laceyville, Pennsylvania, on December 17, 2014;
  • M&T Bank, Hanover Township, Pennsylvania, on December 22, 2014;
  • FNCB, Plains Township, Pennsylvania, on January 14, 2015;
  • M&T Bank, Coal Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, on January 22, 2015;
  • Community Bank, Meshoppen, Pennsylvania, on January 26, 2015; and
  • Family Dollar, Ashley Borough, Pennsylvania, on January 28, 2015.

Fenster was arrested on January 29, 2015, and has been incarcerated since that date.  Judge Caputo also ordered Fenster to pay $21,650 in restitution, and order that he spend three years on supervised release following service of his sentence. 

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Jenkins Township Police Department, Plains Township Police Department, and the Pennsylvania State Police.  Assistant United States Attorney John Gurganus prosecuted the case. 

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