ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Former Xerox employee, Richard Wilbern, was sentenced to serve life in prison for the robbery and fatal shooting that took place at the Xerox federal credit union in Webster in 2003.

Wilbern, 60, was found guilty last November in the shooting death of 51-year-old Raymond Batzel during a robbery at the Xerox federal credit union.

What You Need To Know

  • Richard Wilbern, 60, was sentenced to life in prison

  • Wilbern was convicted of robbery and the fatal shooting of Raymond Batzel, 51, 17 years ago

  • The incident took place inside the Xerox Federal credit union on August 12, 2003

Batzel, also a Xerox employee, was there to make a car payment when Wilbern walked in wearing a jacket with the letters FBI written on the back of the jacket, sunglasses, and a wig. The defendant took off with $10,000 in cash. Wilbern maintained his innocence saying he was railroaded by the system. The federal prosecutor said it was the facts and DNA evidence that led to a conviction.

“There’s no question the evidence was challenged. The defense attorneys in this case were very capable. They made the right arguments but in the end the jury did evaluate the evidence and they believe the evidence was sufficient to convict Mr. Wilbern beyond a reasonable doubt,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Gregory.

The prosecutor argued all along Wilbern had motive, means, and opportunity to commit the crime. Gregory said DNA evidence as well as a close friend of Wilbern’s who identified him from bank surveillance images led to a conviction.

Before handing down the life in prison sentence, Judge Charles Siragusa told Wilbern:

“Will you die in prison? Yes, you will die in prison, and you know what, as well you should.”

Families on both sides sat through five weeks of testimony. Raymond Batzel’s mother spoke in court and then outside the courthouse about having empathy for Wilbern’s family.

“I wanted them to see that here’s two boys, born cute little kids, a baby is always cute and they grow up in different environments and it kind of shapes what happens to them because they have choices to make. Everything is a choice in this world you know. It finally has come to an end. There will be appeals I’m sure,” said Rowena Bennet, Raymond Batzel’s mother from Bloomfield.

Wilbern’s attorney’s declined comment after leaving the federal courthouse in Rochester.