TERRE HAUTE – A New York man was caught with a knife and received an additional 27 months at the Terre Haute Federal Correctional Complex.

David Piparo, 62, of New York was convicted of three commercial robberies and using a firearm. He was sentenced to 22 years by a federal judge in the Southern District of New York. He has been serving his sentence at Terre Haute FCC since 2021.

On Nov. 27, 2021, an officer was conducting random searches of inmates as part of the prison’s effort to control contraband, the government said.

Piparo was leaving the recreation yard when he was asked to submit to a pat-down. During that search, the officer found a piece of green plastic, about 6.5 inches long with a sharpened point.

U.S. District Court Judge James R. Sweeney issued sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Warden and Jayson McGrath prosecuted.