The guy got 19 years.
Bank robber responsible for hostage standoff gets 19 years
Friday, November 19, 2004
By Chris Hack
Staff writer
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A Romeoville man was sentenced Thursday to 19 years in prison for several bank robberies, including a heist in Plainfield in June 2003 that led to his arrest after an hours-long hostage standoff.
Armed with a loaded handgun, Edward Binert demanded $25,000 from a teller at First National Bank in Plainfield. When police responded to a silent alarm that had been tripped at the bank, Binert took several hostages and released them one by one during tense negotiations before surrendering nearly four hours after the ordeal began.
As part of the sentence imposed Thursday, Binert was also ordered to pay a total of $140,000 in restitution to the three banks — two in Bolingbrook and another in Plainfield — he had robbed before the robbery that went awry at First National. The earlier heists dated back to February 2002, according to Binert's plea agreement with prosecutors.
Although he spent several months at a government psychological hospital after his arrest, Binert earlier this year waived any claim he was incompetent to stand trial on the federal charges.
Court records show Binert also had eight convictions in Cook County Circuit Court since 1986 for offenses ranging from battery to residential burglary.
Chris Hack may be reached at chack@dailysouthtown.com or (708) 633-5984.
Bank robber responsible for hostage standoff gets 19 years
Friday, November 19, 2004
By Chris Hack
Staff writer
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Romeoville man was sentenced Thursday to 19 years in prison for several bank robberies, including a heist in Plainfield in June 2003 that led to his arrest after an hours-long hostage standoff.
Armed with a loaded handgun, Edward Binert demanded $25,000 from a teller at First National Bank in Plainfield. When police responded to a silent alarm that had been tripped at the bank, Binert took several hostages and released them one by one during tense negotiations before surrendering nearly four hours after the ordeal began.
As part of the sentence imposed Thursday, Binert was also ordered to pay a total of $140,000 in restitution to the three banks — two in Bolingbrook and another in Plainfield — he had robbed before the robbery that went awry at First National. The earlier heists dated back to February 2002, according to Binert's plea agreement with prosecutors.
Although he spent several months at a government psychological hospital after his arrest, Binert earlier this year waived any claim he was incompetent to stand trial on the federal charges.
Court records show Binert also had eight convictions in Cook County Circuit Court since 1986 for offenses ranging from battery to residential burglary.
Chris Hack may be reached at chack@dailysouthtown.com or (708) 633-5984.