Elaborately masked Fla. robber sentenced

CINCINNATI - A Florida man who robbed Tri-State banks with an elaborate mask that made him look like a black man was sentenced Friday to 25 years in prison.

Just after 9:45 a.m., 30-year old Conrad Zdzierak was read his sentence by judge Ethna Cooper after he pleaded guilty to robbing a string of local banks in 2010.

Judge Cooper cited Zdzierak as "dangerous" during the sentencing hearing.

Police say he used a very life-like Hollywood-style mask back in April while robbing more than six banks. The mask allowed Zdzierak to trick his victims and police to initially think he was a bald black man.

After his arrest, police found dozens of notes on his computer between him and a mask company, along with notes about what went wrong during the robberies and how he could improve by doing things like drinking less coffee because it made him tense.

Zdzierak originally faced 12 charges, but they were reduced to six in a plea bargain that he accepted.