Former Corporate General Counsel Sentenced For Bank Robbery

Steven Cormier of Walnutport, Pennsylvania, has reached a very sad and unexpected conclusion to a once distinguished career. Cormier, 58, previously agreed to disbarment after his arrest  for bank robbery in a truly heart-breaking story of a former general counsel who found himself in a free fall.  He has now pleaded guilty to robbery, theft and receiving stolen property.  He also pleaded no contest to making terroristic threats.  He was sentenced to 18 to 36 months in prison

Cormier was once general counsel at firetruck maker Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp and was featured in at least one gambling competition.  However he lost his job and found himself without money while caring for his mother.

He clearly had enough when he walked into a Wells Fargo Bank and told a teller that “things are going to get ugly” if she did not give him money. He left with nearly $16,000 but did not get far when police caught up with this car. He was brought back to the bank and identified by witnesses.

It is a crime that seems to speak of desperation after Cormier found himself unemployed and at the age of 58 without any new prospects for employment. That is hardly an excuse of course for a criminal act, but it is a chilling and cautionary tale in this economy.