Repeat Bank Robber from Albany Sentenced

District Attorney P. David Soares announced that LEON SAMUEL, 46, of Albany, was sentenced to 3 to 6 years in State Prison as a Second Felony Offender, before the Honorable Peter A. Lynch in Albany County Court this morning.

On August 26, 2014, SAMUEL pleaded guilty to (1) Count of Robbery in the Third Degree, a Class D Felony.

On July 25, 2014, SAMUEL, who was on federal probation for bank robbery, entered a TrustCo Bank in Albany and handed the teller a written note demanding money.  After not receiving any money, SAMUEL fled.  SAMUEL then entered a First Niagara Bank and handed the teller a different note stating “Give me $30,000, this is a robbery.”  The teller then gave SAMUEL approximately $463.00 in US Currency and SAMUEL left the bank.  An investigation by the Albany Police Department led to the identification and arrest of SAMUEL.  

Assistant District Attorney Steven Sharp prosecuted this case.