Four family members sentenced in Martelle bank robbery

Four family members, who armed themselves and wore disguises, were sentenced to federal prison terms ranging from 10 to 16 years on Thursday for robbing a Martelle bank in April.

U.S. District Chief Judge Linda Reade said they all conspired and participated in robbing the Exchange State Bank on April 6. Reade called the plan 'more sophiscated” than the usual robbery where suspects go in demand money and flee. This family purchased shotguns and clothing for the robbery, and had two getaway cars, one which they burned to conceal evidence and the other to escape.

Brothers Shiloh, 22, and Andrew, 25, Palmer, pleaded guilty in August to one count of armed bank robbery and aiding and abetting and one count of using a firearm in a violent crime and aiding and abetting. The brothers entered the bank with loaded shotguns and demanded money from the tellers, taking $33,850, Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Morfitt said.

Shiloh Palmer tried to 'put the fear in people” by racking his shotgun inside the bank, Morfitt added. He also directed tellers to the vault.

Shiloh said he felt bad about his part but people '...don't fear me no more. I'm changed. Sorry doesn't come close.”

Andrew apologized to a customer and the bank tellers who were there that day, saying he felt like a 'scumbag” for what they did. He said he's a Christian and he had stopped reading his Bible at the time.

Each of the brothers were sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Their sister, Elizabeth Olinger, 26, pleaded in August to one count of armed robbery and aiding and abetting and one count use of fire to commit a federal felony crime and aiding and abetting.

Morfitt said she may not have been in the bank, but it was her idea to rob the bank. She was the getaway driver of the first car that was torched to hide any evidence of the crime. She also bought gas for the fire.

Elizabeth Olinger, who had previous convictions for theft and assault, which impacted her sentencing, will serve 16 years in prison.

She apologized to the court and the people in the bank for putting their lives at risk.

Her husband, Peter Olinger, pleaded in August to one count of armed robbery and aiding and abetting. He was the second getaway driver and helped plan the robbery.

He told the judge she would never see him again in court. 'I learned my lesson...I know it's bad what I did.”

Peter Olinger was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Lawyers for the defendants all made pleas for lesser sentences but Reade said she wasn't going below guideline sentencing.

Mike Lahammer, Andrew's lawyer, and Jill Johnston, Shiloh's lawyer, said both men had learning or mental disabilities, and their sister threatened them if they didn't participated in the robbery that she would kick them out of her trailer.

Reade said there was no evidence she threatened them and it's 'absolutely ridiculous” to think they would do this to others because they might be 'kicked out.”

Reade said she couldn't imagine how the victims felt. 'When someone racks a gun they are putting a bullet in the chamber. 'And then he (Shiloh) said ‘do it now,' as he racked it.” The money was recovered by authorities from the robbery but Reade ordered the defendants to pay $591 jointly, in restitution to the bank, which was interest until it was returned to the bank.