A federal judge in Montana has sentenced 88-year-old Steven Whitecloud to two years in prison and three years supervised release for robbing two Montana banks.
Whitecloud previously pleaded guilty to his roles in the heists.
CrimesChroniclers learnt that his 26-year-old co-defendant Patrick Justice was previously sentenced to two years in prison for his role.
According to prosecutors, on August 24, 2023, Justice entered a Billings U.S. Bank and gave the teller a note demanding money. He got the funds and fled the area in a Ford Taurus.
Four days later, Justice went into a Billings Wells Fargo Bank demanding money. He also told the teller he was “strapped,” which the worker took to mean the suspect had a gun.
Justice got the money and fled in a Taurus. Responding officers spotted the green Taurus and tried to pull it over. But it sped away.
After a chase, officers got the vehicle to stop and found Justice and Whitecloud inside.
Whitecloud told officers he suggested the two rob banks, as he had done in the past, as a way to make money.
Whitecloud was convicted in 2008 of bank robbery. He said he told Justice how to rob a bank and acted as the getaway driver.
The federal judge, in addition to the prison sentence, ordered Whitecloud to pay $3,092 in restitution.
