Buffalo man sentenced for role in 3 armed robberies

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- A Buffalo man was sentenced to serve 19 years and one month in prison for his role in three armed credit union robberies in 2017 and 2019, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced.

Officials said on the morning of Oct. 26, 2017, Adrian Applewhite, 37, and two others robbed the Lakeshore Federal Credit Union on Erie Road in Evans. Applewhite planned the robbery and gave instructions and a firearm to a co-defendant to assist in the robbery, the attorney's office said.

On July 25, 2019, two co-defendants went into the South Towns Community Federal Credit Union on South Park Avenue in Lackawanna while Applewhite sat in a car nearby as the getaway driver, officials said.

According to the attorney's office, the co-defendants sprayed the bank tellers with pepper spray, went into an unlocked safe and stole $290,500, of which Applewhite took a share of the proceeds.

On November 7, 2019, while armed with a pistol and wearing masks and gloves, two co-defendants robbed the Clarence Community and School Federal Credit Union on Sheridan Drive.

Officials said Applewhite, the getaway driver, sat in a car nearby and $148,793 in total was taken. Applewhite took a share of the money for his role.

In May 2021, Applewhite admitted to being the getaway driver for the robberies and pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated bank robbery.

Applewhite was previously convicted of aggravated bank robbery, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and violating supervised release.

48-year-old Ronald Morris of Buffalo was found to be a part of the three robberies. In August 2023, he was sentenced to over 14 years in prison for his role.