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WILKES-BARRE — Two men admitted to their roles in robbing the M&T Bank branch on Sans Souci Parkway in Hanover Township that involved tossing cash outside their fleeing vehicle earlier this year, according to court records.
Township police in court records say Aaron Lee Fernandez, 29, entered the bank and demanded money while Wayne Charles Castetter, 45, stayed outside near the door on May 22.
Police learned a white Ford Mustang fled the bank and was recorded on surveillance cameras a mile away on Saint Marys Road about one minute after the robbery.
Police also learned the Ford was driving erratically at a high rate of speed on New Commerce Boulevard in Hanover Industrial Estates and on Route 29, from which it turned south onto Interstate 81.
As the vehicle fled on I-81, police learned a tracking device hidden within stolen cash was thrown from the Ford along the highway.
Police and state police searched the area, finding 27 $20 bills scattered along the interstate near Route 29.
A picture of the Ford was provided to area police departments and shortly thereafter, police in Hazleton spotted the vehicle near Fernandez’s residence on Peace Street, Hazleton.
Fernandez and Castetter were arrested at the Peace Street residence by Hazleton police.
Court records say Fernandez admitted they used his mother’s vehicle to drive to a strip mall on Sans Souci Parkway where they parked. They put on gloves, hats and hooded sweatshirts and walked a short distance to the bank where Fernandez entered and demanded cash, court records say.
Fernandez told police they discarded their hats, gloves and sweatshirts in a bag he tossed into a wooded area in Hanover Township.
During a court proceeding before Luzerne County Judge Michael T. Vough on Thursday, Castetter pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery. Prosecutors withdrew a robbery charge against Castetter.
Fernandez on Oct. 10 pleaded guilty to robbery. Charges of conspiracy to commit robbery, theft, and receiving stolen property were withdrawn against Fernandez by prosecutors.
Fernandez is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 13. Castetter is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date.
