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Ohio man receives prison sentence for Williamstown bank robbery

PARKERSBURG — An Ohio man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the October 2017 Williamstown Bank robbery.

William Edward “Billy White Shoes” Johnson, 56, of Lancaster, Ohio, was sentenced this week by Wood County Circuit Judge J.D. Beane to 10 years in prison with 819 days credit for time served, per a plea agreement which he pleaded guilty to last December.

On Halloween Day 2017, a suspect entered the bank, wearing an old man mask, with a bag and demanded money from a teller. Police reported the suspect “lifted his shirt and exposed what appeared to be a firearm” during the robbery.

He then fled with an undisclosed amount of cash. No one was injured.

Known for a history of bank robbery, Johnson was arrested in October 2020 after allegedly robbing Citizens Bank in Marietta.

Johnson robbed three Washington County banks in January 2002, according to law-enforcement in Washington County.

The Williamstown Police Department posted a statement on its Facebook page.

“We can finally close the book on the Williamstown Bank robbery from Halloween 2017,” the statement said. “Great job by our investigators on this case. Johnson still faces a bank robbery charge in Marietta, Ohio, from last year.”

Johnson is currently in custody at the North Central Regional Jail.

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