BUFFALO — Fifty-one-year-old Thomas Cascio of Cheektowaga was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with bank robbery. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan A. Tokash, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, at approximately 1:09 p.m. Monday, an individual entered the Key Bank at 5200 Main St. in Amherst. The individual, wearing a hard hat, safety vest, and eye protection goggles, approached a teller and passed a bank robbery note. The teller only recalls reading the word “Robbery” at the top of the note before the individual took the note back and told her to “Hurry up!” and “Don’t give me funny money!” The teller gave money to the individual who then departed the bank. Witnesses described the individual as having a distinctive beak like nose and gray hair.
The Amherst Police Department issued a high quality bank robbery surveillance photo to local media asking for public assistance. On Tuesday, a total of eight people contacted either the Amherst Police Department or FBI identifying the robber as Thomas Cascio. In addition, there were numerous anonymous calls to the Amherst Police Department that identified Cascio as the bank robber.
In 2000, the defendant was convicted in federal court of four bank robberies and sentenced to 48 months in prison. In some of those robberies, Cascio’s movements were similar to his alleged movements on May 6, 2017, including taking the note back from the teller before leaving the bank.
In 2009, Cascio was convicted in state court of three bank robberies and served two years in prison.
The defendant made an initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder and is being detained.
