Man sent to federal prison for role in bank robbery
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POCATELLO — A California man will spend the next nine years in federal prison for his alleged involvement in the robbery of a U.S. Bank in Pocatello.
Aaron Hernandez, 26, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill sentenced Hernandez to the 108-month prison term on Wednesday. As part of a plea agreement, additional charges of bank robbery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of an unregistered firearm were dismissed.
Authorities say that in February, Hernandez, of Ontario, California; Patrina Morris, 37, of Kent, Washington and Jonathon Brewer, 26, of Pocatello, participated in the robbery of the bank. Morris pleaded guilty to the felony bank robbery charge since she was the one who walked into the bank and stole the money. Hernandez is accused of helping her get away.
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During the investigation, police found Hernandez had a 9mm handgun. As he was a convicted felon in California, he could not legally have the gun.
Both Hernandez and Morris will have to jointly pay the $4,621 in restitution to the U.S. Bank following the heist. She is scheduled for sentencing in November, while Brewer has opted to take his case to a jury trial in 2021.
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Hernandez is now behind bars at the FDC SEATAC, a federal prison near Seattle, Washington. He will eventually participate in a drug treatment program as ordered by Winmill.
Upon release from prison, Hernandez will spend three years on supervised release.