Former Pittsburgh cop pleads guilty to lying to FBI agents about bank robbery

By Steve Pope | March 12, 2019

A former Pittsburgh police officer pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday to charges of lying to FBI agents who were investigating the Jan. 8, 2018 robbery of the Citizens Bank in Crafton

Antoine Cain, 49, of Pittsburgh, pleaded guilty to two counts of making false statements to government agents.

Federal agents interviewed Cain on July 27 and again on July 31 concerning the robbery.  Agents learned that Cain had been involved in a seven-year, on-again, off-again, relationship with a woman identified as Melissa Kane.

Authorities learned that Kane was the mother of Brent Richards, who authorities said was the lead suspect in the robbery.

Cain told federal agents during the interviews that he did not know the identity of the individual who had robbed the Bank, when in fact he did, court documents allege.

On Sept. 18, after agents told Cain that they had information indicating that he knew who robbed the bank, Cain admitted that he lied to authorities during his two previous interviews.

Cain told the agents that Brent Richards, who Cain knew through his relationship with Kane, had committed the robbery.

Prosecutors allege that Cain told the agents that Richards told him that he had “hit” a bank, which Cain understood to mean that he had committed the robbery.

Cain also admitted that Kane told him that Richards had robbed the bank, wearing a mask and using a BB gun.

Cain’s sentencing is scheduled for July 2 before Senior U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Schwab.  He faces up to five years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000, or both.

Steve Pope can be contacted at steve.pope@grantstreetnews.com