West Deer man gets federal prison for robbing bank, Family Dollar store

A West Deer man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for robbing a Family Dollar store and a Butler County bank last summer.

Matthew Milliron, 40, pleaded guilty to two related counts in March. He was sentenced Monday by Senior U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Schwab.

Prosecutors said Milliron robbed the Family Dollar store in West Deer on July 5, 2021, and took $7,300.

Then, about a month later, on Aug. 7, he stole $136,000 from Northwest Bank in Middlesex Township.

He used an Airsoft pellet pistol in each robbery, though he didn’t fire it.

In the Family Dollar robbery, authorities said, Milliron approached an employee arriving at the store about 7:40 a.m. before it opened and ordered the employee to unlock the front door, turn off the alarm and open the safe.

A complaint filed against Milliron in connection with the bank robbery said he approached a teller in her office at the bank shortly before noon and said “give me your money.”

At first, she thought he was joking. But then, authorities said, Milliron pulled out the Airsoft pistol, grabbed the teller by the neck and stuck it in her back. Milliron led the teller to the vault where she filled a bag with money, the complaint said.

Surveillance cameras captured the robbery, including Milliron’s use of a red Honda Accord, the complaint said. License plate reading cameras were then able to track the vehicle’s travel, authorities said.

Two hours after the robbery, Milliron texted his landlord to tell her he had $1,300 for rent, according to the complaint.

Several people, including local law enforcement and Milliron’s relatives, identified him as the bank robbery suspect from photos that were captured.

In an interview with police, Milliron said he was in the area of the bank that day to trap minnows in a nearby creek. However, when officers checked for the traps Milliron said he placed there, they couldn’t be found, the complaint said.

After his arrest, the government said Milliron told police where the money was. They were able to recover $116,000 of the stolen money.

Because of that cooperation, as well as his decision to plead guilty so quickly, the government agreed to a plea offer for Milliron to serve five years in prison.

According to court documents, he had previous convictions for simple assault, DUI, theft of services and theft by deception.