Man guilty of bank robberies
Published 10:00 pm Tuesday, April 26, 2011
A Virginia Beach man was found guilty Tuesday in federal court of the armed robbery of five banks in South Hampton Roads, including at least one in Suffolk.
James Nathan Pizer, 42, of Virginia Beach, Va., entered his guilty pleas in Norfolk before U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson. Pizer will be sentenced on Sept. 8 and faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prision.
According to court documents, Pizer admitted to robbing five banks in Suffolk, Chesapeake and Virginia Beach between July and November 2010.
He also admitted that he attempted to rob a sixth bank on Nov. 24, but was unable to enter the bank because tellers saw him coming, recognized him from warning flyers disseminated by law enforcement and refused to allow him to enter the bank. Pizer was arrested later that day after his failed attempt.
The case was investigated by the FBI. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron M. Rountree and Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Hatch are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.