Pittsfield man sentenced to 2 to 6 years in prison for attempted bank robbery

A Pittsfield man was sentenced to two to six years in prison Monday for attempted bank robbery.

Louis Hoffman, 34, joined Berkshire Bank at 66^th West St. in Pittsfield on Nov. 20, 2022. He handed the cashier a note telling her to stay calm and “don't joke around” because no one would get hurt, according to the Berkshire County District Attorney's Office.

According to prosecutors, Hoffman demanded that she give him all the $50 and $100 bills in her drawer, but not any packs of paint.

The note ended with “Thank you.” When the cashier handed him the money, he said, “Do you think I'm stupid? It's all in the drawer.”

He then left the building without the money and was arrested a short time later. Hoffman confessed to the police.

Hoffman has a previous conviction for robbery. In 2017, he injured a gas station attendant with a firearm during a robbery, prosecutors said.