“Tri-Cities Bandit,” Who Struck in Pasadena, Is Sentenced

Notorius serial bank robber dubbed the “Tri-Cities Bandit” was sentenced to 100 months in prison for a series of Southern California bank robberies including those in Pasadena, Burbank, and Glendale which earned him his moniker with the FBI.

Other banks robbed were from Tanzana, Los Angeles, La Verne, and Westlake Village.

Ernest Ivar Viana, 39, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright II at a trial in December. He was sentenced at  a Los Angeles federal court Monday, and was ordered by the judge to a fine of $600 and restitution of $21,000 for the money he had stolen from the banks.

Viana was also recommended to participate in a 5-hour drug program, as the suspect has also been established as a drug addict.

The suspect tearily spoke to the court, apologizing for “”for the horrible things I did — going in there and robbing those banks.” Viana added that he “never went in there with the mind frame to hurt anyone.”

In the meantime, Viana’s partner and getaway driver Oleg Gorokhovsky, 42, was also charged with aiding and abetting in the heist of an East West Bank in Tarzana August 11, 2011, the robbery of a U.S. Bank in La Verne and a Bank of the West branch in Pasadena August 17, 2011, as well as another burglary in Westlake Village August 19, 2011.

The pair was caught after the final robbery in Westlake Village, as bank employees informed LA County authorities of the robbery.

Broadcasts of the getaway vehicle’s description reached a sherrif’s deputy on patrol near Topanga Canyon Boulevard and the Ventura Freeway, who spotted the getaway vehicle.

The suspects were arrested at a traffic stop.