ALEXANDRIA, Va. (WUSA/AP) - A woman known as the "blond bandit" after a several bank robberies and carjackings last year has been sentenced to more than 11 years in prison.
Stephanie Schwab of Manassas pleaded guilty earlier this year to stealing $3,200 in a pair of November bank robberies, plus another attempted robbery. She also admitted stealing a car from relatives and carjacking two others. Court papers indicate Schwab blamed her crime spree on a heroin addiction.
Schwab was a member of the MS-13 street gang and was in the Witness Protection Program after testifying at high-profile murder trial.
Thursday, she was sentenced and in addition to her prison time must participate in substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation, mental health counseling and pay restitution of $24,396.92. It was also recommended that she participate in the gang tattoo removal program while incarcerated. After serving time, she will also have 4 years of supervised release.