PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A 34-year-old man has pleaded guilty in federal court to four Portland bank robberies attributed to the “River Rat Bandit.”
The River Rat is blamed for a 2009 series of armed robberies on both sides of the Columbia River that netted more than $96,000. In addition to the four Portland bank jobs, The Oregonian reports that (http://bit.ly/pOHfJ9) the robber hit 14 banks or check cashing outlets in Washington, from Clark County to the Puget Sound area.
Prosecutors say Alexey Perez-Hernandez relied on Travis Oles to drive the getaway vehicle. Oles was earlier sentenced to 18 years.
Perez-Hernandez entered his guilty pleas Wednesday. Under a plea agreement, he is expected to serve 28 years in federal prison and be ordered to pay nearly $25,000. Sentencing was set for Dec. 7.
