Buffalo man sentenced for his role in three armed credit union robberies

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Adrian D. Applewhite a/k/a Boons, 37, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of aggravated bank robbery, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and violating supervised release, was sentenced to serve 229 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who handled the case, stated that Applewhite participated in the robbery of three credit unions:

• On the morning of October 26, 2017, Applewhite and two other associates robbed the Lakeshore Federal Credit Union on Erie Road in Evans, NY. Applewhite planned the robbery and provided instructions and a firearm to a co-defendant to assist in the robbery.
• On July 25, 2019, two co-defendants entered the South Towns Community Federal Credit Union on South Park Avenue in Lackawanna, NY, while Applewhite, the getaway driver, sat in a car nearby. The two co-defendants sprayed the bank tellers with pepper spray, and went to an unlocked safe, stealing $290,500 in United States currency. Applewhite took a share of the proceeds for his role. 
• On November 7, 2019, two co-defendants, armed with a pistol and donning masks and gloves, entered the Clarence Community and School Federal Credit Union on Sheridan Drive in Clarence, NY, and conducted a bank robbery while Applewhite, the getaway driver, sat in a car nearby. A total of $148,793.90 in United States currency was taken. Applewhite took a share of the proceeds for his role.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Stanley Edwards; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia; the Lackawanna Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Packard; the Evans Police Department, under the direction of Chief Gregory J Szarowicz; and the Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief James P. Stauffiger. Additional assistance was provided by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office.

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