A woman who allegedly robbed three banks to get money to buy heroin and other drugs goes before a federal judge Thursday for arraignment on charges of bank robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery.
Nichole Lynn Durst is accused of robbing First National Bank in Loganton on May 31.
She allegedly brandished a pistol and threatened a bank employee during the 2:30 p.m. holdup, according to a grand jury indictment in the U.S. Middle District Court.
Durst also is accused of robbing banks in Tyrone and Salix.
She allegedly shared more than $6,000 with a co-conspirator to buy heroin and other drugs, according to court documents.
According to the grand jury, "the conspirators threatened to injure and kill bank employees and other persons with a pistol."
They allegedly used a blue pickup truck and a red or maroon-colored SUV to travel to the banks and get away following the robberies.
During the Loganton robbery, Durst showed a teller a note that read "No Bait. No Alarms," according to court documents.
She allegedly told the teller to give her all the money and threatened to "shoot her in the face" if she refused.
As she demanded additional money from the teller, Durst allegedly pulled a pistol partway out of her purse. She then took additional cash the teller gathered from another drawer before walking out of the bank, according to the indictment.
Durst walked and ran away from the bank, but was followed by the bank branch manager, who alerted individuals passing by that Durst had just robbed the bank.
While fleeing, Durst dropped her hat and was approached by several people, authorities said.
As the people approached her, Durst allegedly turned and pointed at one of them. As another individual approached Durst, she allegedly put her hand in her purse and told them, "I'll shoot you in the (expletive) face."
When more people approached Durst, she allegedly reached into her purse, pulled out a pistol and said, "Back the (expletive) up!"
Durst then got into a vehicle driven by an unidentified person known to the grand jury, and they fled the borough.
Her arraignment is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday.
