A man who eluded police during a three-month long bank-robbing spree during the summer and fall of 2007 was sentenced to serve two life sentences in U.S. District Court in Rome today.

Anthony Ray Artrip, 38, of Ashland, Ky., pleaded guilty in June to multiple counts of armed robbery including taking $20,000 from a Regions Bank in Calhoun and three cases transferred from other states.

In total, Artrip robbed five banks in Michigan, West Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia, taking $100,132 in the process.

The defendant was ordered to serve two consecutive life sentences plus three 20-year sentences concurrent with a previous 40-year sentence Artrip was already serving.

“Mr. Artrip has been very clear from the beginning that he is taking responsibility for his actions. He just wants to get on with his life and be done with this,” said defense attorney, Jeffery Ertel.

He had escaped from prison twice, once by climbing a basketball goal inside a Kentucky federal prison, escaping by making his way through the prison’s duct system.

Artrip was placed on the U.S. Marshal’s 15 Most Wanted list and was featured on “America’s Most Wanted,” and was eventually caught by U.S. Marshals at a Pittsburgh, Pa., hotel.

His initial sentencing date was set for Aug. 27 but was pushed forward due to Artrip’s eagerness to be sentenced.