Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Robbery

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Michael Tynes, 54, of Buffalo, New York, pleaded guilty to bank robbery before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a 250,000 fine or both.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Catherine Baumgarten, who is handling the case, Tynes robbed two M&T Banks:

• On August 7, 2013, the defendant entered M&T Bank, located at 133 Jefferson Avenue, Buffalo, and passed the teller a demand note stating: “This is a stick up. Give me 30. $100.00 bills. And 40. $50.00 bills. No dye packs. I have a crew outside. If I am not out of here in 4 min, they will come in. Do not sound alarm.” The teller gave Tynes an amount of money.
• On September 11, 2013, the defendant entered M&T Bank, located at 1300 Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo and passed the teller a demand note stating: “Fast. This is a stick up. No dye packs. I have a crew outside. Don’t sound alarm. 30. $100.00 dollar bills 40. $50.00 dollar bills. FAST!” The teller gave Tynes an amount of money.

The plea is the culmination of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda.
Sentencing is scheduled for August 15, 2014 at 12:30 p.m.