Getaway Driver For Accused Bank Robbers Strikes Plea Deal
DENVER (CBS4) - There was a plea deal and sentencing Tuesday for a getaway driver linked to a team of Russian bank robbers.
Police say the defendant, German Chesnokov, acted as the getaway driver for the two men dubbed as the "Brothers Bandits."
Chesnokov was sentenced to 21 months in jail.
Vyacheslav "Slavic" Volkov and Denis Volkov are accused of holding up four banks in a two week span. Police say in each heist they entered the bank, demanded money with a weapon and made off with the cash.
In one of the robberies Chesnokov initially claimed he'd been kidnapped by the brothers and was only helping them because they were threatening to shoot him. However, FBI agents say Chesnokov made false statements to the agents and disposed of evidence relevant to the robberies.
A 70-year-old cab driver who CBS4 previously spoke with and who asked to remain anonymous said he unknowingly drove the brothers around during one of the alleged heists at a bank in Denver.
"One of them stayed in the taxi and the other fellow went away for 15 minutes," the cab driver said. "It was a $ 70 fair and they gave me $100, all in $5 bills."
Chesnokov received the low end of the sentencing.
The Volkov brothers are still due in court.
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