After a series of bank heists spanning several years, a 68-year-old Toledo man has been handed down a prison sentence of more than 11 years, as reported yesterday by the Department of Justice. Hershel Winbush pleaded guilty to four counts of bank robbery in Lucas County, Ohio, and for breaking the terms of his supervised release from a previous conviction.
Winbush's crimes involved threatening bank employees with notes claiming he was armed and demanding cash. The institutions affected by Winbush's actions include Woodforest National Bank on Glendale Ave on two separate occasions, Jeep Federal Credit Union on Manhattan Blvd, and Key Bank on Secor Rd. Judge Jack Zouhary sentenced him to 140 months in prison for each count, to run concurrently, and imposed a restitution of $8,210, according to a statement obtained by the Department of Justice.
Authorities pieced together Winbush's criminal history, revealing a long string of bank robberies and violent crimes, especially in Michigan. He has been labeled a Career-Offender by the presiding Judge Zouhary, indicating a pattern of repeat offenses. Upon his release, Winbush will also be subject to two years of supervised release.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Toledo Field Office and the Toledo Police Department were responsible for the investigation that led to Winbush's arrest. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Simko, for the Northern District of Ohio, was the lead prosecutor on the case.
