Four Grand Island Family Members Indicted For Their Roles In Bank Robberies And Obstruction

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment charging four members of a Grand Island, NY, family for their roles in two bank robberies. Timothy L. Mulvey, 33, is charged with aggravated bank robbery; entering a bank with intent to commit a larceny; bank larceny; obstruction of justice; false statements; conspiracy to obstruct justice; tampering with evidence; conspiracy to tamper with a witness; and tampering with a witness. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

In addition, Timothy’s father, mother, and sister were charged as follows:

• Lawrence M. Mulvey, 66, (father) is charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice; obstruction of justice; accessory after the fact; and making a false statement;

• Kelsey A. Mulvey, 27, (sister) is charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice; and

• Cheryl A. Mulvey, 67, (mother) is charged with obstruction of justice; conspiracy to tamper with a witness; and tampering with a witness.

Lawrence, Kelsey, and Cheryl Mulvey all face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that according to the superseding indictment, on June 27, 2018, Timothy Mulvey is accused of robbing the Northwest Savings Bank located at 2300 Grand Island Boulevard, Grand Island, NY. He is also accused in a July 11, 2018, robbery which took place at M&T Bank, 880 Military Road, Niagara Falls, NY. In both instances, Timothy Mulvey displayed a weapon in a threatening manner.

The superseding indictment alleges that on July 12, 2018, the day after the second robbery, the defendant destroyed his cellular telephone. On July 13, Timothy Mulvey falsely told Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation that on July 11, 2018, (the date of the M&T Bank robbery) that he was in Rochester, NY, for work, and that his cellular telephone was electronically wiped by his employer. 

In addition, the superseding indictment alleges that between mid-July 2018 and March 2019, defendants Timothy, Lawrence and Kelsey Mulvey are accused of conspiring to and destroying a black gun in order to prevent it from being used as evidence in this case. Timothy Mulvey is also accused of persuading an individual to throw the black gun, which was stored in the basement of the Mulvey residence, into a dumpster. Timothy and Cheryl Mulvey are also accused of encouraging the individual not to cooperate with law enforcement officers. In addition, Timothy and Cheryl Mulvey are accused of instructing the individual to tell law enforcement officers that such individual was drunk when initially interviewed in July of 2018.

Cheryl Mulvey is also accused of testifying falsely and evasively as to whether she spoke with Timothy Mulvey about certain bank robberies; testifying falsely and concealing information about Timothy Mulvey's possession of a black gun; refusing to testify and concealing information about whether Kelsey  Mulvey  found  BB  pellets  in  Timothy  Mulvey's  vehicle;  concealing information about a black gun that was delivered to her residence in July 2018; and attempting to undermine the credibility of a witness.

The defendants were arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth, Schroder, Jr. Timothy Mulvey is in custody. Lawrence, Kelsey, and Cheryl Mulvey were all released on conditions.

Prior to the return of the superseding indictment in this matter, Kelsey Mulvey was separately charged in a different indictment returned earlier this year which charged her with illegally obtaining controlled substances by fraud, tampering, and violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

The superseding indictment is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Howard, and the Niagara Falls Police Department, under the direction of Superintendent Thomas Licata.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.