Serial Bank Robber Sentenced for Holdups in Cuyahoga Falls

A Canton man who robbed eight banks across Northeast Ohio — from North Canton to Cuyahoga Falls and Youngstown — was sentenced to 12 and a half years in prison Monday.

Benjamin G. Gates, 33, had been indicted in September and then in November pleaded guilty to eight counts of bank robbery in U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio.

“This sentence should send a clear message to those who would think about robbing a bank,” U.S. Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach said in the community newspaper, The Falls News-Press. “Our law enforcement partners are to be commended for bringing an end to this wave of bank robberies.”

Police had connected Gates to the following Ohio bank robberies: 

• July 2: U.S. Bank, located inside the Fishers Food store at 4403 Cleveland Ave. in Canton.
• July 20: U.S. Bank, located inside the Giant Eagle at 75 Graham Rd. in Cuyahoga Falls.
• July 27: Huntington Bank, located inside the Giant Eagle at 4700 Belmont Ave. in Youngstown.
• Aug. 3: Huntington Bank, located inside the Giant Eagle at Washington Square in North Canton.
• Aug. 10: Huntington Bank, located inside the Giant Eagle at 608 Raff Rd. in Canton.
• Aug. 16: U.S. Bank, located inside the Acme Fresh Market  at 2630 Bailey Rd. in Cuyahoga Falls.

Vindy.com also reported Gates robbed two banks in Pittsburgh and Erie, Pa., and netted $24,528 in stolen cash.