Federal jury indicts Uniontown man
PITTSBURGH – United States Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan has announced that on Tuesday a federal grand jury indicted a Uniontown man on charges of conspiracy, bank larceny and bank larceny using a dangerous weapon or device. The three-count indictment named William Terry Bowser, 29, of 318 Prospect St., Uniontown, as the sole defendant.
According to the indictment, Bowser, along with Thomas W. Rice Sr. and Thomas W. Rice Jr., allegedly stole the automatic teller machine from the First Philson Bank in Indian Head on Oct. 6, 1997. The indictment further alleges that Bowser and the Rices used a stolen tilt-bed truck to take the ATM to a remote area known as “the Glade,” a wooded area in Farmington, where they removed the cash from the machine.
The Rices both pleaded guilty to these charges April 23, 2001. Thomas W. Rice Sr., was sentenced to 11 months in prison. Thomas W. Rice Jr. was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment. Both Rices were ordered to pay $55,822 in restitution to the bank.
Assistant United States Attorney Shaun E. Sweeney, who presented the case to the grand jury, indicated that the law provides for a maximum total sentence of 40 years in prison, a fine of $750,000 or both. Under the federal sentencing guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based on the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of Bowser.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.