Hershel Winbush, a 68-year-old resident of Toledo, Ohio, has been handed a prison sentence by U.S. District Judge Jack Zouhary after pleading guilty to four counts of bank robbery committed in Lucas County, Ohio. Winbush, who violated the conditions of his supervised release from a prior conviction, is to serve 140 months, which equates to more than 11 years, for each count to run concurrently. He is also required to pay $8,210 in restitution. Once released, he will be under two years of supervised release.
Court documents reveal that Winbush targeted banks in the Toledo area between 2019 and 2024, using threats to secure money. He would leave notes to bank employees that read, "I have a gun, give me all the cash available," and "This is a hold up. I have a gun." The banks affected included:
- Woodforest National Bank, Glendale Ave., October 24, 2019
- Woodforest National Bank, Glendale Ave., November 5, 2019
- Jeep Federal Credit Union, Manhattan Blvd., April 8, 2024
- Key Bank, Secor Rd., April 22, 2024
Investigation into Winbush's activities uncovered a lengthy history of bank robberies, which have led to numerous incarcerations and convictions for violent offenses in Michigan. Judge Jack Zouhary classified him as a Career-Offender.
The investigation was a collaborative effort between the FBI Toledo Field Office and the Toledo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Simko of the Northern District of Ohio prosecuted the case.