How many years does someone get for robbing someone w/ a fake gun?

My sister did this and I think she deserves the maximum sentence because she's not willing to work for her money and has screwed up way too many times now… She's gone to jail before, but I guess that wasn't enough for her, so now her life's pretty much over. She took a BB gun and robbed a man at an ATM machine for his cash and before that she tried to steal a man's iphone… She also stole a lady's purse a few days before that and had her driver's license and social security card with her. (no idea why) We've all tried our best to help her, but apparentley her friends were more important to her… I guess some people ust have to learn the hard way. How many years is she looking at? We live in CA

Same as you get for armed robbery using a real one Doesn't matter if you use a knife, steel pipe or whip, why would if they look real, but aren't, make a difference.

There's no difference in the penalty. In fact, a defendant need not have any weapon to commit armed robbery. Typically, the grand jury indictment includes words along the lines of "the use or threatened use of force or violence," which can include reaching under a coat to indicate the possession of a weapon.