Monday crime roundup

A few bits of crime news, collected by Stephanie Farr, John F. Morrison and yours truly:

*A man wearing a Chicago White Sox hat robbed the Citizens Bank branch at 5th Street near Godfrey Avenue in Olney this morning. The man handed a teller a demand note and fled with an undisclosed amount of money, the FBI said. He was described as a short black man in his early 20s with a mustache and goatee. Anyone with information about his identity should call the FBI at 215-418- 4000.

*District Attorney Lynne Abraham and Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey announced that the city's Gun Violence Task Force will start arresting people who lie on their applications for firearms licenses. The task force, which combines police officers and assistant district attorneys, began in 2006 with funding from the state. So far the operation has made 346 arrests and seized 673 firearms.

*Nefertiti Randall, 29, was sentenced yesterday to 66 months in federal prison for an extensive identity-theft scheme. Randall, of Irving Street near 54th, West Philadelphia, used the credit- card numbers of nine people to make $20,129 in purchases. Randall, who pleaded guilty to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, was ordered to pay $38,000 in restitution. Authorities said Randall plotted this scheme while she was in prison for similar offenses.

*A 21-year-old woman was sexually assaulted and repeatedly punched in the face by a knife-wielding man who grabbed her about 10:30 p.m. Saturday as she was entering her apartment on Locust Street near Van Pelt, Center City, police said. The man ran when she shot in the face with pepper spray, police said. He was described as a slender black man in his late 20s with a goatee and wearing a red Phillies hat. Anyone with information about his identity is urged to call the Special Victims Unit at 215-685-3251.

*An arrest warrant was issued yesterday for Justin Peoples, 20, accused of being involved in a shooting on Pomona Street near McCallum, Germantown, on July 30. No one was injured. Peoples, who is also known as "Blaze," is a suspect in several other cases, police said. His last known address was on the same block of Pomona Street where the shooting occurred. Tipsters can contact detectives at 215-686-3353.

*A 25-year-old woman was upgraded from critical to stable condition at Jefferson University Hospital yesterday after being hit by a car while riding a bicycle along Delaware Avenue near Christian Street in Queen Village Sunday night.
According to police, the bicyclist was hit as she was crossing three lanes of traffic shortly before midnight. The driver stayed at the scene and will not face any charges.