Man gets more than 15 years in robberies of pharmacies, Chambersburg bank

February 22, 2012

BALTIMORE — A Dundalk, Md., man was sentenced in federal court Wednesday to more than 15 years in prison for conspiring to commit armed robberies of pharmacies and a Chambersburg, Pa., bank to obtain money and drugs, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Freddie Douglas Widener, 55, will also face five years of supervised release after serving the 233-month prison sentence, U.S. AttorneyRod J. Rosensteinsaid in a news release.

All of the co-defendants in the case — Ernest Widener, 54, of Baltimore; Richard Adams, 53, of Baltimore; Terry Blair, 52, of Baltimore; Robert Gene Harris, 29, of Chambersburg; and Lucy Varner, 29, of Dundalk — have previously pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Baltimore to their roles in the robberies, Rosenstein said.

Blair and Ernest Widener were sentenced to five years in prison, and Adams was sentenced to 174 months in prison, Rosenstein said.

Ernest Widener acquired two handguns in Baltimore that were used by other members of the conspiracy during the robberies, the release said.

On July 30, 2010, Freddie Widener and Harris, armed with the handguns supplied by Ernest Widener, robbed the M&T Bank on Philadelphia Avenue in Chambersburg, the release said.

Harris was arrested at the scene, but Freddie Widener fled in Harris’ car.

On Sept. 15, 2010, Freddie Widener and Adams attempted to rob the Loch Raven Pharmacy on East Northern Parkway in Baltimore, the release said.

Freddie Widener and Adams were armed, and Widener discharged his gun during the attempted robbery, the release said.

Varner was the getaway driver in that robbery. Adams was apprehended at the scene, but Freddie Widener escaped with Varner in the getaway car, the release said.

On Sept. 18, Ernest Widener and Blair set the getaway car on fire in an attempt to destroy it, the release said.

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