Man Sentenced for Robbery Spree That Included Phoenixville Bank

A Wayne County man has been sentenced to more than 20 years in prison for his role in a 2013 robbery spree that spread throughout central Pennsylvania.

Dale Mentzer, 37, of Waymart, will serve 264 months in prison after pleading guilty to a string of armed robberies that he committed between July 11, 2013 and July 19, 2013 with a partner, in Berks, Chester, Lebanon, and Northampton Counties.

Mentzer and Heath DeRizzo, 38, of Manheim, were charged with two counts of interference with interstate commerce by robbery, four counts of bank robbery, two counts of use and carrying of a firearm during a crime of violence, and two counts of convicted felon in possession of a firearm. DeRizzo also pleaded and will be sentenced next month.

Mentzer and DeRizzo committed armed robberies at the following locations in Pennsylvania:

• Sovereign Bank branch in Kutztown, on July 11, 201
• Northwest Savings Bank branch in Myerstown, on July 16, 2013
• First Cornerstone Bank branch in Phoenixville and The Rodeway Inn motel in Muhlenberg, on July 18, 2013;
• National Penn Bank branch, on July 19, 2013;
• and, that same day, Cihylik Farms in Allen Township.

Henderson assisted Mentzer and DeRizzo in their efforts to avoid apprehension.

A third defendant, Samantha Henderson, 24, of Fredericksburg was charged with accessory to robbery after the fact. She pleaded guilty to assisting Mentzer and DeRizzo in their efforts to avoid apprehension.

U.S. District Court Judge Edward G. Smith ordered the federal prison term to run consecutive to a 15-year sentence Mentzer is currently serving in Maryland for other robberies. He also ordered restitution in the amount of $8,926, a special assessment of $800, and five years of supervised release.