Utica, New York - Two Utica area men arrested on charges of bank robbery.

United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian announced today the arrest of two Utica area men on charges of bank robbery.

ZACHARIAH EDWARDS, 21, of Frankfort, surrendered himself to authorities in Utica on March 8. He was transported to Syracuse where he was formally charged with robbery of $3,400 from the M&T Bank, 5170 West Taft Road, Syracuse, New York on March 4, 2013. On Monday, March 11, NICHOLAS FERRONE, 21, of Utica, surrendered himself to authorities in Syracuse. He was brought to federal court and formally charged with robbery of $4,409 from Chase Bank, 4425 East Genesee Street, Dewitt, NY on January 28, 2013.

According to the criminal complaints filed in these cases, EDWARDS and FERRONE are suspected of acting together and robbing the following banks:

Chase Bank, 6004 Court Street, Syracuse, New York on January 14, 2013;
Berkshire Bank, 2080 Western Avenue, Guilderland, New York on January 23, 2013;
Chase Bank, 4425 East Genesee Street, Dewitt, New York on January 28, 2013;
Trustco Bank, 2050 Western Avenue, Guilderland, New York on February 13, 2013;
Bank of America, 638 Memorial Drive, Chicopee, Massachusetts on February 25, 2013; and
M&T Bank, 5170 West Taft Road, Syracuse, New York on March 4, 2013.

In addition, the papers filed with the court link FERRONE to a robbery of the Alliance Bank at 142 Genesee Street, Oneida, New York on January 3, 2013.

Both defendants appeared before United States Magistrate Judge David E. Peebles and were ordered held without bail. Detention hearings for both are scheduled for March 13, 2013 at 11:00 am in Syracuse. Bank robbery carries a maximum penalty of twenty years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 for each count.

The investigation has been a multi-agency effort, including participation by the Dewitt Police Department, the New York State Police, the Guilderland Police Department, the Oneida Police Department, the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, Chicopee, Massachusetts Police Department, Schenectady Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by AUSA Edward R. Broton.

The charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.