Modesto Man Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Prison for Armed Bank Robberies

FRESNO, CA—United States District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill sentenced Anthony Edward Fuerst, 51, of Modesto, to 17 years and three months in prison for four counts of armed bank robbery and one counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced. Judge O’Neill also ordered Fuerst to pay $59,461 in restitution.
According to court documents, Fuerst was arrested after he robbed two Modesto banks while brandishing a sawed-off shotgun in less than two hours. Further investigation revealed that he was responsible for five other armed bank robberies in the Modesto area. Fuerst pleaded guilty to the following robberies, which were used to determine his sentence:

• Citibank, 1340 Oakdale Road, on June 12, 2012
• Chase Bank, 2609 McHenry Avenue, on September 17, 2012
• Farmers and Merchants Bank, 3001 McHenry Avenue, on January 18, 2013
• BBVA Compass Bank, 2601 Oakdale Road, on January 18, 2013.

According to court documents, Fuerst was also responsible for robberies at Citibank on March 9, 2012 and August 27, 2012, and at the Farmers and Merchants Bank on August 13, 2012. The charges for those robberies were dismissed today at the sentencing hearing.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Modesto Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Melanie L. Alsworth prosecuted the case.