ANCHORAGE WOMAN SENTENCED TO 20 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON
FOR CONVICTION OF ARMED CREDIT UNION ROBBERY

     Anchorage, Alaska – United States Attorney Nelson P. Cohen announced today, July 10, 2008, that Cynthia Lee Taranto, a resident of Anchorage, Alaska, was sentenced in federal court in Anchorage to 20 months in prison for her conviction of armed credit union robbery.

Chief United States District Court Judge John W. Sedwick imposed the sentence on Taranto, age 25.

According to information presented to the court by Special Assistant United States Attorney Erin White, Taranto drove her co-defendant, Bernard Miguel Kalilikane, to the Alaska USA Federal Credit Union and acted as the “get-away” driver. Kalilikane escaped with $4,350 after brandishing a Bersa .380 semi-automatic pistol, which had been provided to him by Taranto. Last month, a jury found Kalilikane guilty of armed credit union robbery, armed bank robbery, two counts of using a semi-automatic pistol during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 3, 2008, at 8:30 a.m.

Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Sedwick noted the serious nature of the defendant’s crime, as well as the need to deter other potential offenders.

Mr. Cohen commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Taranto. SAUSA White is one of two prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office who are funded by the Municipality of Anchorage for the purpose of prosecuting gang-related and violent crime cases.