La Verne: December 2011 Archives

LOS ANGELES -- A serial robber pleaded guilty to six bank heists which included banks in Pasadena and La Verne.
Ernest Viana, who was dubbed by the FBI as the "Tri-Cities Bandit", entered his plea Tuesday at a Los Angeles federal court.
He will be sentenced March 12, according to court document.
His alleged accomplice and getaway driver, 42-year-old Oleg Gorokhovsky, has a trial set for Jan. 10.
The FBI gave the moniker because the bandit initially robbed banks in Pasadena, Glendale and Burbank. He started robbing banks in June and presented tellers a note demanding large bills.
Viana was charged with 10 bank robberies and two attempted robberies in communities that included Pasadena, Los Angeles, Chino Hills, La Verne and Glendale. Court documents estimated the amount taken at $21,229.
Viana and Gorokhovsky were arrested by deputies after robbing the First California Bank in Westlake Village on Aug. 19.
- From Staff Writer Ruby Gonzales