New England Man Dubbed the “British Bandit” Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that today United States District Judge William B. Shubb sentenced Patrick Edward Doherty, 32, of Boston, to 30 months in prison to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release for bank robbery. He was also ordered to pay restitution.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Sacramento Violent Crimes Task Force, which includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office. Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Rodriguez prosecuted the case.

According to court documents, during the early stages of the investigation the task force dubbed the perpetrator "the British Bandit" because tellers indicated the robber used a flamboyant or exaggerated English accent during his robberies. Doherty was arrested when investigators uncovered information regarding his modus operandi and linking his likeness to the surveillance photos. Doherty was charged on November 30, 2009 and on April 5, 2010, pleaded guilty to robbing the following banks:

April 5, 2009, the Tri Counties Bank at

3250 Arena Blvd., Sacramento

;

April 22, 2009, the Bank of America at

1900 Anderson Road, Davis

.

Doherty has remained in custody since his arrest in November 2009.