Bank robber who escaped from hospital sentenced to 32 years

Assaye

The “bicycle bandit” who escaped from Inova Fairfax Hospital March 31 and led police on a nine-hour manhunt was sentenced to 32 years in federal prison Oct. 9, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia reports.

Wossen Assaye, 43, of Arlington had been found guilty in July of two counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, based on his armed assaults of two security guards during the escape.

He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $34,870 for 12 bank robberies and undergo drug testing and treatment in addition to a mental health evaluation and treatment. Prosecutors had recommended a 35-year sentence.

Assaye had robbed 11 banks in Northern Virginia between October 2013 and March 2015, fleeing the scene on a bicycle in some cases. After being arrested, he escaped from federal custody while at Inova Fairfax Hospital. During his escape, he assaulted a security guard, overpowered her, and took her firearm. He them pointed the firearm at a second guard before pulling the first guard down a hospital hallway at gunpoint and fleeing.

Later that morning, a resident of Cindy Lane, Annandale, started driving to work when she discovered Assaye hiding in her car. She had an accident and fled, and he stole the car, which was later found, unoccupied, on Oak Court in Annandale. He stole clothes from a house on Oak Court, stole another car, and was later captured in Washington, D.C.