Far Rockaway man sentenced for bank robbery

Pedro Benitez was implicated in stealing from Five Towns banks

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A Far Rockaway man, who admitted to the armed robbery of four banks, including two in the Five Towns, was sentenced to nearly 11 years in prison on Aug. 10, federal officials said.

Pedro Benitez, 21, robbed $6,750 from a TD Bank in Cedarhurst on Aug.7, $12,000 from Bridgehampton National Bank in Hewlett on Aug. 21, $2,200 from Roslyn Savings Bank in Valley Stream on July 14 and more than $50,000 from a Queens County Savings bank in Fresh Meadows on Sept. 20, officials said. All four robberies occurred in 2017.

At each, Benitez entered the bank with a gun, ordered employees to the ground and demanded money. No injuries were reported in any of the robberies. Through a plea bargain, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced for only the Queens bank robbery

In addition to 10 years and 10 months in prison, Benitez was sentenced to three years of supervised released and has to pay $71,395 in restitution, as ordered by U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert in Central Islip. Two other men were convicted for the bank robberies and await sentencing, while two more are yet to face trial, officials said.