Judge Sentences Bank Robber to More than 10 Years in Prison

PITTSBUGRH, PA – A former resident of Mount Oliver, PA, has been sentenced in federal court to 10 years and seven months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release on his convictions on federal bank robbery charges, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Chief United Stated District Judge Mark Hornak, imposed the sentence on David Payo, 52. Payo was detained at his initial appearance and will remain detained as he begins to serve his sentence.

The court was advised that on May 27, 2017, Payo entered the PNC Bank in Homestead wearing a black baseball hat, black hoodie, and approached the teller. Payo stated, "This is a robbery, give me 50s, 100s, 20s, and no dye packs." Payo escaped with $3,460 in cash out of the front door of the bank.

The court was also advised that on June 8, 2017, Payo, wearing an orange sweatshirt, black baseball cap and black sunglasses on top of the hat, approached a teller at the Citizens Bank in Monroeville, PA. He sat down at the desk and told her, "This is a robbery." He then repeated, "This is a robbery, give me your 100s, 50s, and 20s, no 10s, and no dye packs." The teller complied and handed over $1890 in cash and one dye pack. Payo fled from the bank. A search of Payo’s residence recovered dye stained clothes from the exploding dye pack given to him at the Citizens Bank.

Assistant United States Attorney Timothy M. Lanni is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The FBI Pittsburgh’s Violent Crimes Task Force, the Homestead Police Department, the Allegheny County Police Department, and the Monroeville Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the guilty plea and sentence in this case.