Essex County Man Charged with Eight Bank Robberies

NEWARK, NJ—An Essex County, New Jersey man made his initial court appearance today in connection with his alleged role in eight bank robberies that took place between November 20, 2012 and September 11, 2013, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Andrew Thomas, 32, of Newark, is charged by complaint with eight counts of bank robbery. His girlfriend, Jennifer Pinto, 32, also of Newark, is charged with conspiring to commit two of the eight bank robberies. Both made their initial court appearances today before U.S. Judge Joseph A. Dickson in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Thomas is allegedly responsible for a bank robbery spree that spanned several months and four counties in New Jersey and which included seven bank robberies and one attempt. Pinto is charged in the same complaint with two counts of conspiracy to commit bank robbery in connection with two of the eight bank robberies for which Thomas is charged.
Thomas robbed or attempted to rob eight banks on eight separate dates between November 2012 and September 2013. Thomas robbed the following banks on the following dates:

November 20, 2012	Wells Fargo Bank at 550 Broad Street Newark
January 10, 2013	Investors Savings Bank at 946 Amboy Avenue Edison, New Jersey
May 3, 2013	Investors Savings Bank at 56 Westfield Avenue Clark, New Jersey
May 30, 2013	Garden State Community Bank at 1162 Green Street Iselin, New Jersey
June 6, 2013	JP Morgan Chase Bank at 60 Stirling Road Watchung, New Jersey
July 30, 2013	Wells Fargo Bank at 550 Broad Street Newark
August 10, 2013	Garden State Community Bank at 310 North Avenue Cranford, New Jersey
September 11, 2013	Lusitania Savings Bank at 1135 Liberty Avenue Hillside, New Jersey

In several of the bank robberies, Thomas allegedly wore similar clothes and used similar tactics in robbing the bank. In all but two of the bank robberies, Thomas allegedly pointed what appeared to be either a silver or black handgun directly at the victim bank tellers and verbally demanded money. Thomas also wore either a black V-neck shirt or blue button-down shirt in several of the robberies. Pinto is charged with conspiring to commit the bank robberies in Watchung and Cranford on June 6, 2013, and August 10, 2013, respectively. In each of those bank robberies, Pinto allegedly assisted Thomas by driving him to and from the bank robberies.
Each count of bank robbery with which Thomas is charged carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. He was detained.
Each count of conspiracy with which Pinto is charged carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. She was released on $100,000 bond.
U.S. Attorney Fishman praised special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford. He also thanked the Newark, Edison, Clark, Woodbridge, Watchung, Cranford, and Hillside Police Departments for their contributions to the case.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Eskew of the U.S. Attorney’s Office General Crimes Unit in Newark.