Serial bank robber sentenced to 76 years in prison after targeting downtown Chicago banks on parole

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A serial bank robber has been sentenced for targeting multiple banks while he was on parole for other bank robberies.

On Friday, a judge sentenced 68-year-old Joseph Donelson Jr. to 76 years in prison.

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Donelson was accused of violently robbing, or trying to rob, four banks in downtown Chicago back in 2023 while on supervised release.

The crimes happened between October 2023 and December 2023 in the Loop and Streeterville.

Surveillance images captured the heists. He could seen sprawled over the counter during one robbery.

"Defendant's actions terrorized multiple bank employees, causing injury to one and lasting psychological trauma to another," Assistant U.S. Attorney Minje Shin argued in the government's sentencing memorandum. "His crimes demonstrated utter disrespect for the law, and a severe sentence is necessary as just punishment."