Sacramento Bank Robber Dubbed the "Goat-Man Bandit" Sentenced to Eight Years and Four Months in Prison

SACRAMENTO, CA—United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that yesterday, United States District Court Judge Kimberly J. Mueller sentenced John Raymond Porter, 42, of Sacramento, to eight years and four months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for serial bank robbery.

This case was 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 "Goat-Man Bandit" because the tellers in some robberies indicated the robber had facial hair in the form of a goatee. Porter was convicted of four counts of bank robbery but admitted to committing nine bank robberies:

1. Wells Fargo Bank, 781 Pleasant Grove Boulevard, Roseville, on October 3, 2008;

2. US Bank, 30 High Street, Auburn, on October 23, 2008;

3. Washington Mutual Bank, 5801 Sunrise Blvd., Citrus Heights, on October 23, 2008;

4. Wachovia Bank, 8477 Auburn Boulevard, Citrus Heights, on December 11, 2008;

5. US Bank, 2360 Grass Valley Highway, Auburn, on December 13, 2008;

6. Bank of America, 900 High Street, Auburn, on December 23, 2008;

7. Bank of America, 2221 Douglas Boulevard, Roseville, on January 6, 2009;

8. Bank of America, 3901 Park Drive, El Dorado Hills, on February 17, 2009; and

9. Wells Fargo Bank, 3291 Coach Lane, Cameron Park, on March 2, 2009.

Porter has agreed to pay restitution for the total loss suffered by all nine banks, which amount will be determined at the restitution hearing scheduled for July 21, 2011.