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11 Years For 'Blond Bandit' In Bank Robberies

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) -- A northern Virginia woman who became known as the "blond bandit" has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for a string of bank robberies and carjackings last year.

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.

Schwab had been a member of the MS-13 street gang and for a period of time was in the Witness Protection Program after testifying at high-profile murder trial.

Prosecutors sought a term of at least 10 years at Thursday's sentencing hearing, a term in line with federal sentencing guidelines.

Schwab's lawyer said that heroin addiction drove her crime spree.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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