A former PNC Bank employee pleaded guilty in federal court to robbing three PNC Bank locations and attempting a fourth. Disguised in a hijab and a surgical mask to cover her face, Jasmine Parrish, 30, stole nearly $100,000 from her former employer.
Parrish pleaded guilty to a five-count indictment, U.S. Attorney Scott Brady announced.
Parrish admitted that she and her co-defendant, Donna Poremski, conspired to commit three bank robberies in June, September and October 2018.
During the first robbery at the PNC Bank in West Mifflin, Parrish and Poremski attempted to conceal their identities by wearing hijabs that covered their faces, according to a Justice Department news release. Parrish also carried a cane and wore a surgical mask with a tube that connected to an oxygen tank.
The women approached a teller station and handed over a demand note, also threatening that they had a bomb.
Poremski was observed on surveillance footage brandishing what appeared to be a gun. The women directed bank employees to empty their cash drawers and enter the bank vault.
All told, Parrish and Poremski stole more than $61,000 from the West Mifflin location.
Parrish said the women also wore disguises during the second and third robberies. In these incidents, Parrish entered the buildings, on McKnight Road in McCandless and Rodi Road in Penn Hills, to scope out the bank before Poremski robbed them.
Promenski was seen with what appeared to be a .9 mm pistol during the September robbery. During the October robbery, Promenski threatened to use a gun but never brandished one.
The women stole $35,500 during the September robbery and $350 in October.
A total of $97,004 were stolen during the three robberies.
Parrish also admitted to driving and writing a demand note for a juvenile to use to rob the PNC Bank on Liberty Avenue in Bloomfield in November 2018.
The court was informed that this was the branch at which Parrish had previously worked. While the juvenile gave a teller the demand note, Parrish left the bank before obtaining any money.
Parrish remains incarcerated pending sentencing.
