Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Robbery

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Michael Tynes, 54, of Buffalo, New York, pleaded guilty to bank robbery before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a 250,000 fine or both.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Catherine Baumgarten, who is handling the case, Tynes robbed two M&T Banks:

• On August 7, 2013, the defendant entered M&T Bank, located at 133 Jefferson Avenue, Buffalo, and passed the teller a demand note stating: “This is a stick up. Give me 30. $100.00 bills. And 40. $50.00 bills. No dye packs. I have a crew outside. If I am not out of here in 4 min, they will come in. Do not sound alarm.” The teller gave Tynes an amount of money.
• On September 11, 2013, the defendant entered M&T Bank, located at 1300 Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo and passed the teller a demand note stating: “Fast. This is a stick up. No dye packs. I have a crew outside. Don’t sound alarm. 30. $100.00 dollar bills 40. $50.00 dollar bills. FAST!” The teller gave Tynes an amount of money.

The plea is the culmination of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda.
Sentencing is scheduled for August 15, 2014 at 12:30 p.m.

Alleged Serial Bank Robber Arrested After Morning Robbery of Bank in Colonia

NEWARK, NJ—A man allegedly responsible for a three-county New Jersey bank robbery spree faces a federal charge today following his arrest yesterday, May 1, 2014, after the rush hour robbery of a Rahway Savings Institute in Colonia, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Jason Novello, 35, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count of bank robbery in connection with the Colonia theft. He made his initial appearance today before U.S. Judge James B. Clark, III in Newark federal court and was detained.
According to the complaint filed today and statements made in court:
At approximately 9:05 a.m. on May 1, 2014, Novello entered the Rahway Savings Institute in Colonia, approached a bank teller, and held up a note claiming he had a gun and demanding money. The teller gave the cash to Novello, including two “bait bills” from which the serial numbers had been pre-recorded by the bank.
A bank employee followed Novello out of the bank and noted the license plate of the blue Hyundai Elantra in which Novello fled. Law enforcement officers were able to track the car’s registration to an address where they waited for Novello. FBI agents arrested him when he showed up in the Hyundai.
Including the latest Colonia robbery with which he is charged, the complaint alleges Novello committed nine robberies in the nine months from August 2013 to May 2014, hitting two of the banks—in Colonia and Elizabeth—twice each:

• May 1, 2014 - Rahway Savings Institute, Colonia
• April 28, 2014 - PNC Bank, Scotch Plains
• March 22, 2014 - Rahway Savings Institute, Colonia
• March 8, 2014 - Capital One Bank, Iselin
• March 1, 2014 - PNC Bank, Edison
• January 25, 2014 - Capital One Bank, North Plainfield
• December 7, 2013 - PNC Bank, Fanwood
• October 30, 2013 - Investors Savings Bank, Elizabeth
• August 30, 2013 - Investors Savings Bank, Elizabeth

The bank robbery charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Fishman praised special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford in Newark, and thanked the Middlesex and Somerset County Prosecutors’ Offices, as well as the Woodbridge, Edison, North Plainfield, Fanwood, Scotch Plains, and Elizabeth Police Departments for their work.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cari Fais of the U.S. Attorney’s Office General Crimes Unit in Newark.
Defense counsel: Assistant Federal Public Defender Carol Gillen Esq., Newark

Guilty Verdict Reached in Bank Robbery Trial

Michael J. Moore, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announced the conviction today of Walter Butler, Jr., aged 45, of Gainesville, Georgia, of bank robbery. Orlando Brock, aged 43, of Hartwell, Georgia, was found guilty of armed bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The guilty verdicts were handed down following a four-day trial before the Honorable C. Ashley Royal, Chief United States District Court Judge, in Athens, Georgia.

Evidence presented at trial showed that on Thursday, September 22, 2011, at approximately 2:40 p.m., Allen Colbert, a/k/a “Juicy,” and Juan Vladimir Camp entered the North Georgia Credit Union in Lavonia, Georgia. Both men carried firearms; one of them brandished a firearm. Both men wore gloves and covers over their heads. The pair forced the tellers to hand over approximately $310,000 and then sprayed them with pepper spray. After stealing the money, both Mr. Butler and Mr. Colbert left the scene in a truck driven by Mr. Butler. Orlando Brock planned the robbery, supplied the firearms, and dropped Mr. Colbert and Mr. Camp off at the bank that day.
Mr. Colbert and Mr. Camp entered guilty pleas to their part in the robbery on March 20, 2013. The court has set their sentencing hearing for May 27, 2014, in Athens, Georgia.
Mr. Butler faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a maximum fine of $250,000, or both. Mr. Brock, Mr. Colbert and Mr. Camp face a maximum sentence of 25 years’ imprisonment, a maximum fine of $250,000, or both. Mr. Brock faces an additional minimum mandatory sentence of seven years up to a maximum sentence of life, a maximum fine of $250,000, or both on the firearm charges. The court will set a sentencing date for Mr. Butler and Mr. Brock following the completion of a pre-sentence investigation and report.
“This case is a fine example of a cooperative investigation by the federal, state, and local authorities. These defendants face lengthy terms of imprisonment without parole as the result of their violent criminal activity,” stated U.S. Attorney Michael Moore.
“The GBI is committed to working with our local and federal law enforcement partners to insure those who commit crimes such as this are brought to justice,” said GBI Director Vernon Keenan.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, and Lavonia Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Graham Thorpe and Sonja Profit prosecuted the case for the Government.
Inquiries regarding the case should be directed to Pamela Lightsey, United States Attorney’s Office at (478) 621-2603.

Serial Bank Robber Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Two Long Island Bank Robberies

Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, New York, Steven Bertuglia was sentenced to 15 years in prison by United States District Judge Joseph F. Bianco. On October 3, 2012, Bertuglia pleaded guilty to committing two bank robberies in Nassau and Suffolk Counties while on release to a halfway house for convictions stemming from a string of 14 bank robberies he committed in 2007.
The sentence was announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; George Venizelos, Assistant Director in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), New York Field Office; Thomas C. Krumpter, Acting Commissioner, Nassau County Police Department (NCPD); and Edward Webber, Commissioner, Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD).
“Having refused to learn from his mistakes, this serial bank robber will now have the next 15 years to contemplate the consequences of his actions. We stand committed to protecting the public from dangerous repeat offenders,” stated United States Attorney Lynch. Ms. Lynch expressed her grateful appreciation to the FBI, the NCPD, and the SCPD for their participation in this case.
On June 16, 2008, United States District Judge Jack B. Weinstein, in federal court in Brooklyn, sentenced Bertuglia to five years in prison for committing 14 bank robberies in 2007 in Nassau, Suffolk, and Queens Counties and in New Jersey and Connecticut. On May 3, 2011, Bertuglia was released from prison to live in a halfway house in Brooklyn, where he was scheduled to finish serving the remainder of the 2008 sentence, which would have ended on January 13, 2012.
During his guilty plea proceeding before Judge Bianco, Bertuglia admitted that in June 2011, he committed two bank robberies in Nassau and Suffolk Counties while on release at the Brooklyn halfway house. Specifically, on June 9, 2011, Bertuglia rented a car, drove to an Atlantic Bank branch in Hicksville, New York, presented the teller with a threatening note, and made off with cash. Nearly four years earlier in June 2007, Bertuglia had robbed that same Atlantic Bank branch while armed with a pellet gun. On June 16, 2011, Bertuglia again used a threatening note to rob a TD Bank branch in Farmingville, New York.
On January 13, 2012, Bertuglia was arrested by the FBI, with assistance from NCPD and SCPD.
The government’s case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charles N. Rose.
Defendant:
Steven Bertuglia, age 41

Robbery of First Community Credit Union by Buttoned-Up Bank Bandit

The FBI Bank Robbery Task Force needs your help to identify the man who wore a polo-type shirt buttoned up to the top when he robbed a Cypress bank earlier today, April 4.
At about 10:40 a.m., a man entered the First Community Credit Union located inside the HEB grocery store at 22224 Northwest Freeway at Barker Cypress in Cypress, Texas. He approached the teller counter and presented a demand note in which he threatened to have a gun. Witnesses did not observe a weapon. After receiving an undisclosed amount of cash, he left the bank. No one was physically hurt.
The robber is described as a black male, 6’0”–6’3” tall, 150 to 160 pounds, medium complexion, with a trimmed beard and mustache. He was wearing a dark blue ball cap, glasses, and a dark blue, short-sleeved polo-type shirt.

Crime Stoppers is offering up to $5,000 for information leading to the charging and arrest of this robber or any felony suspect. If you have information about this crime, please call the Crime Stoppers tip line at 713-222-TIPS (8477) or the Houston FBI Field Office at 713-693-5000.

Hudson County Trio Indicted for Robberies of Sovereign Bank in Secaucus and TD Bank in Fairview

NEWARK, NJ—Two men and a woman from Hudson County, New Jersey were indicted today in connection with their roles in two bank robberies that took place last summer, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Gary Bohanan, 44; Angel Feliu, 20; and Josephine Chenet, 45, all of North Bergen, New Jersey, are each charged by indictment with two counts of bank robbery. The indictment was returned by a federal grand jury sitting in Newark.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Bohanan, Feliu, and Chenet allegedly robbed the Sovereign Bank (now Santander Bank), in Secaucus, New Jersey, on July 22, 2013. Bohanan and Feliu entered the bank at 10:11 a.m. Both wore latex gloves on their hands and masks over their faces. Once inside, Bohanan brandished a black handgun, jumped over the counter, and proceeded to empty two drawers of money into a black bag, while pointing the handgun at bank tellers. As Bohanan emptied the drawers, Feliu stood guard. Bohanan and Feliu then fled the bank into a car driven by Chenet.
Bohanan, Feliu, and Chenet also allegedly robbed the TD Bank in Fairview, New Jersey, on July 26, 2013. Bohanan and Feliu, both wearing latex gloves and masks, entered the bank at 9:48 a.m. Feliu was recorded by the bank’s video surveillance system before he pulled the mask over his face. Once inside the TD Bank, Feliu brandished a knife at employees and customers. Bohanan brandished what appeared to be a black handgun but was later identified as an air pistol. Bohanan jumped over the counter and proceeded to empty two drawers of money into a black bag, while pointing the air pistol at bank tellers. As Bohanan emptied the drawers, Feliu stood guard and held bystanders back by brandishing the knife.
Bohanan and Feliu fled on foot and were followed by concerned citizens and victims of the bank robbery. Bohanan encountered a white GMC Savana van, pointed the air pistol at the driver, and ordered the driver out of the van. Bohanan then took control of the van and attempted to flee the area by driving away in the van, drove a short distance, and crashed. He exited the van and attempted to flee on foot. Law enforcement and concerned citizens located Bohanan hiding under a truck, which was parked a short distance away. Bohanan was found with a black bag containing, among other things, a black air pistol and money covered with red dye.
Feliu separated from Bohanan after the bank robbery and was seen getting into the passenger’s seat of a waiting vehicle that was driven by Chenet. Citizens followed the vehicle as it drove away at a high rate of speed and observed Feliu exit the vehicle and run into a cemetery in North Bergen, where he was located by law enforcement.
The counts of bank robbery with which Bohanan, Feliu, and Chenet are each charged each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Bohanan and Feliu have been detained pending trial.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford, with the investigation. He also thanked the Fairview, North Bergen, and Secaucus Police Departments for their contributions to the case.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco J. Navarro of the U.S. Attorney’s Office General Crimes Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Sacramento FBI Arrests Bad Beard Bandit, Who is Suspected of Robbing Eight Northern California Banks

SACRAMENTO, CA—Today, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested Gerardo Orozco Lopez, 28, of Half Moon Bay—suspected of being the “Bad Beard Bandit”—for allegedly committing a series of eight bank robberies in California.
The Bad Beard Bandit struck eight separate Northern California banks over the course of four months and was prominently featured on the FBI’s wanted bank robber website (https://bankrobbers.fbi.gov). The suspect earned his nickname, Bad Beard Bandit, from the FBI because he wore a dark, costume beard of poor quality in an attempt to conceal his identity. While a weapon was reportedly not seen by victims at the banks, the suspect threatened that he had a weapon, increasing concern for the safety of bank personnel and patrons.
The Bad Beard Bandit was wanted for the following robberies:

• November 21, 2013: Bank of the West, 411 W. Main St., Ripon, California
• November 26, 2013: Chase Bank, 123 Spreckels Ave., Manteca, California
• December 3, 2013: Chase Bank, 691 W. 11th St., Tracy, California
• December 4, 2013: Chase Bank, 4520 Dublin Blvd., Dublin, California
• December 10, 2013: Citibank, 395 W El Camino Real, Sunnyvale, California
• December 18, 2013: Chase Bank, 5142 Stevens Creek Boulevard, San Jose, California
• February 5, 2014: Citibank, 2000 Geer Road, Turlock, California
• February 25, 2014: Citibank, 1995 41st Avenue, Capitola, California

The extensive FBI investigation and arrest is the product of efforts from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Capitola Police Department, Dublin Police Services, Manteca Police Department, Ripon Police Department, San Jose Police Department, Stockton Police Department, Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, Sunnyvale Police Department, Tracy Police Department, Turlock Police Department, San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Palisade Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Armed Bank Robbery

DENVER—Jose O. Jimenez, age 27, of Palisade, Colorado, pled guilty last week to attempted armed bank robbery, United States Attorney John Walsh and FBI Denver Division Special Agent in Charge Thomas Ravenelle announced. Jimenez was one of three people indicted for their involvement in or knowledge of the attempted armed robbery of the Palisades National Bank. Jimenez pled guilty before U.S. District Court Judge R. Brooke Jackson on March 20, 2014. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 23, 2014.
Co-defendant Bryan Morrow, age 22, of Palisade, Colorado, pled guilty before Judge Jackson on October 8, 2013. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 30, 2014. Finally, Nicole Kozic, age 25, of San Bernardino, California, who knew that Jimenez and Morrow were involved in the attempted bank robbery, pled guilty to a Class A misdemeanor, interfering with an extradition agent, before U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Blackburn also on March 20, 2014. Kozic lied to an FBI agent who was working on locating Jimenez to extradite him to Washington state to face earlier criminal charges there. She is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Blackburn on May 28, 2014.
According to the stipulated facts in Jimenez’s plea agreement as well as other court documents, on Saturday morning, August 20, 2011, co-defendant Bryan Morrow drove defendant Jose Jimenez from Morrow’s home in Palisade, Colorado to the Palisades National Bank just a few blocks away. Morrow was driving a yellow Nissan XTerra. At approximately 8:20 a.m., Morrow dropped off Jimenez near the bank and positioned himself so he could watch the outside of the bank building. He and Jimenez had two-way radios to communicate with each other. At 8:25 a.m., the Manager of the Palisades National Bank entered the bank by the side door before it opened to the public. As per his usual routine, he checked the bank for security, and then let in the two waiting tellers through the front door. He then went back to the side entrance and opened the door, with the intent to go back to his car to retrieve items. The tellers were setting up their stations. When the bank manager opened the door, he saw work boots underneath the apricot trees by the back door. He was then confronted by Jimenez, who was carrying a gun in his right hand and wearing a black hoodie covered by a reflective work vest, a camouflage mask over half his face, jeans, and work boots. He ordered the manager back into the bank. When one of the tellers realized a man with a gun was in the bank, she discretely pushed the silent alarm.
Jimenez ordered the bank manager to call the tellers to his location. He ordered the tellers to kneel and place their hands on the wall. A third teller arrived and knocked on the door, and Jimenez ordered that she be let in. She joined the other two tellers kneeling at the wall. Jimenez went through her purse and pulled out her car keys. He asked that teller what kind of car she drove, and she responded that she drove a white minivan.
Jimenez ultimately got the bank manager and a teller to open the bank’s vault. He ordered a teller to spread the money out on the counter to ensure it contained no dye packs. The tellers then put the money into a backpack Jimenez had found behind the counter in the bank and had emptied. The backpack belonged to a teller. Jimenez had a two-way radio, with which he spoke to Morrow. Morrow told Jimenez that someone was coming. Jimenez cocked the weapon and took the manager to the front door while the tellers continued with the money. A Palisade police officer arrived at the front door and knocked. Jimenez told the manager to meet the police officer. The bank door was opened, and the officer asked, “Is everything ok?” The manager discretely shook his head “no” and the officer saw Jimenez. Jimenez ordered the officer onto the floor and touched the muzzle of his gun to the officer’s head. Jimenez then obtained the officer’s weapon. The officer’s radio was on, and dispatch was requesting a status check. Jimenez told him to tell dispatch everything was fine, which he did.
When Jimenez went to check on the tellers’ progress, the officer leapt up and ran out of the bank. He immediately called for backup. Jimenez ran out of the bank after the officer. Because the bank was not yet open to the public, the door of the bank locked behind Jimenez and he could not get back into the bank after he broke off pursuit of the officer, who escaped unharmed. Jimenez, who could not access the substantial sum of money being prepared for him inside, entered the white minivan and then met up with Morrow. Jimenez abandoned the minivan and got into the front passenger seat of Morrow’s XTerra, and Morrow drove away from the bank.
“This violent attempted bank robbery victimized many innocent people and was thwarted by the resourceful actions of a police officer on the scene,” said U.S. Attorney John Walsh. “We are aggressively pursuing all those involved in this robbery to obtain justice for those victims.”
“The convictions of those who participated in this violent crime illustrate the ongoing relationship with our partners to ensure justice is served and our communities are protected,” said FBI Denver Division Special Agent in Charge Thomas P. Ravenelle.
Attempted armed bank robbery carries a penalty of not more than 25 years in federal prison, and up to a $250,000 fine.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Palisade Police Department.
The defendants are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Heldmyer.

Suspect Arrested in Connection with Three Armed Bank Robberies

Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the Cleveland Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), for the Northern District of Ohio, announces the arrest of Jonathon Schubert, age 29.
On Friday, March 22, 2014 a federal complaint was signed charging Jonathon Schubert with three armed bank robberies and one charge of use or carry of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence.
Schubert admitted to committing the armed bank robbery of PNC Bank, located at 5320 North Abbe Road, Sheffield Village, Ohio on November 26, 2013; the armed bank robbery of PNC Bank, located at 15100 Puritas Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio on January 27, 2014; and the armed bank robbery of PNC Bank, located at 4600 Great Northern Boulevard, North Olmstead, Ohio on March 10, 2014.
Prior to the armed robbery committed on March 10, a witness outside of the PNC Bank observed an individual wearing a black face mask and black gloves and carrying a black bag exit a vehicle. The witness took a photograph of the vehicle the suspicious individual exited. Within minutes, the witness observed the suspicious individual run from the bank clutching a black bag with both hands and quickly entering the passenger side of the vehicle. The witness provided the North Olmstead Police Department with the photograph of the vehicle. The vehicle was stopped at the intersection of Lorain Road and Berkshire Drive by North Olmstead Police Officers. The vehicle occupants were taken into custody and the vehicle was inventoried. The passenger was later identified as Jonathon Schubert.
A federal complaint was filed on Friday. Schubert was transferred to federal custody this morning. The initial appearance is scheduled for 2 p.m. today in Judge Baughman’s court room.
A complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Serial Bank Robber Hits for the Seventh Time

NEWARK—The FBI’s Newark Division is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying and locating the individual believed to be responsible for robbing seven banks since August of 2013. In all of the robberies, the individual approached the teller, presented a demand note, and made off with an undisclosed amount of cash. He wore a red baseball cap in four of the robberies, a camouflage baseball cap in two robberies, and a two-tone cap on the last robbery. In all bank robberies, the subject is described as follows:

• Race: White
• Gender: Male
• Height: 5’5”-5’7” tall (approximately)
• Hair: Auburn/red or brown
• Facial Hair: Mustache/beard
• Age: Late 20s, early 30s
• Build: Medium

The following is a chronological listing of the robberies with related photos:
Friday, August 30, 2013 - At approximately 11:06 a.m., the Investors Bank located at 51 South Broad Street, Elizabeth, New Jersey, was robbed. The subject wore a red hat, grey shirt, tan shorts, and black sunglasses. He was also carrying a black book bag.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013 – At approximately 4:00 p.m., the Investors Bank located at 51 South Broad Street, Elizabeth, New Jersey, was robbed. The subject wore a red baseball cap, a red t-shirt, black pants, and carried a black backpack.

Saturday, December 7, 2013 – At approximately 11:18 a.m., the PNC Bank located at 45 South Martine Avenue in Fanwood, New Jersey, was robbed. The subject wore blue jeans, a red baseball cap, a black jacket, and a blue scarf.

Saturday, January 25, 2014 – At approximately 12:40 p.m., the Capital One Bank located at 815 Route 22, North Plainfield, New Jersey, was robbed. The subject wore a camouflage colored cap, tan jacket, black gloves, and a black scarf.

Saturday, March 1, 2014 – At approximately 11:30 a.m., the PNC Bank located at 1730 Oak Tree Road, Edison, New Jersey, was robbed. The subject wore a camouflage colored cap, dark jacket, and black gloves.

Saturday, March 8, 2014 – At approximately 11:57 a.m., the Capital One Bank located at Route 1 South, Woodbridge, New Jersey, was robbed. The subject wore a red baseball cap, black winter jacket, and dark pants.

Saturday, March 22, 2014 – At approximately 9:47 a.m., the Rahway Savings Institute located at 426 Lake Avenue, Colonia, New Jersey, was robbed. The subject wore a two-tone baseball cap with blue or green and white with “A” emblem, and a black jacket.

A $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual responsible for these bank robberies.
Anyone with information about these or any other bank robberies should contact the FBI at (973) 792-3000. Additional information and photographs of these bank robberies can be found on Bandittrackernortheast.com.
Citizens are reminded they should never attempt to apprehend a fugitive on their own, and should dial 911 in an emergency.

Cumberland Resident Admits Committing Armed Bank Robberies in Cumberland and Cranston

PROVIDENCE, RI—Joseph G. Petrarca, 50, of Cumberland, Rhode Island, faces statutory penalties of up to 45 years in federal prison after pleading guilty in U.S. District Court in Providence to robbing two banks within 20 days while claiming to be armed with a gun, announced United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha, Cranston Acting Police Chief Rhode Island State Police Captain Kevin M. Barry, Cumberland Police Chief John R. Desmarais, and Vincent B. Lisi, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Office of the FBI.
Appearing before U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith, Petrarca admitted to the court that he robbed a Citizens Bank branch office in Cumberland on December 26, 2012, of $1,764 and that he robbed a Washington Trust Company branch office in Cranston of $9,595 on January 15, 2013. In both instances, Petrarca handed bank tellers a threatening note claiming that he was armed with a gun.
According to information presented to the court, a note handed to a teller at the Washington Trust Company by Petrarca read in part, “I have a gun and I will shoot you.” It further warned, “Watch my hand it has a gun in it.” The teller told police that the robber displayed the handle of a gun which he pulled out from a satchel or briefcase he was holding. Petrarca also handed a note to a teller during the robbery of the Citizens Bank branch office claiming that he was armed. However, no gun was displayed.
According to information presented to the court, on January 19, 2013, based upon information developed in their investigation, Cranston police obtained a warrant to arrest Petrarca for the Washington Trust Company robbery. The following day, officers watched Petrarca as he drove away from his Cumberland home. He was arrested a short time later as he exited Route 95 in Providence.
Following Petrarca’s arrest, Cumberland police officers conducted a court-authorized search of Petrarca’s home, where they seized jeans, identical to those worn by in the Citizens Bank robbery, along with sweatshirts matching those worn in both bank robberies. Fingerless gloves similar to those used in the Citizens Bank robbery and a knit hat similar to that worn in the Washington Trust robbery were seized from Petrarca’s car. A piece of red stained floor carpeting from the vehicle matched the dye used in bank dye packs.
According to a plea agreement filed in this matter, the government will recommend to the court that Petrarca, who pleaded guilty to two counts of armed bank robbery, be sentenced to up to 12 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on June 6, 2014.
The case, which was charged by retired Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth P. Madden, is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gerard B. Sullivan.
The FBI assisted Cranston and Cumberland Police in the investigation of this matter.

Plainfield Woman Sentenced to 87 Months in Prison for Her Roles as Lookout, Getaway Driver in Armed Bank Robberies

NEWARK, NJ—A Plainfield, New Jersey woman was sentenced today to 87 months in prison for playing a role in three armed robberies of banks in Somerset and Middlesex counties, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Andrea Dorsey, 54, of Plainfield, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty to an information charging her with three counts of bank robbery. Judge McNulty imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Claude Williams, 62, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, was charged on August 16, 2013, in a 17-count indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit bank robbery, seven counts of bank robbery, eight counts of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and one count of attempted bank robbery. Those charges remain pending against Williams.
Williams would usually send an accomplice into banks shortly before robbing them. Dorsey admitted she went into banks to gather information for Williams about how many employees were working and served as the getaway driver during the armed robberies of the Financial Resources Federal Credit Union located in Somerset, New Jersey on September 26, 2011; the Somerset Savings Bank located in Somerville, New Jersey on November 21, 2011; and the Fulton Bank located in Metuchen, New Jersey on June 20, 2012.
Williams and Dorsey were arrested July 30, 2012 near a Unity Bank in Somerset. Williams was wearing a bandana, and law enforcement found a handgun and white gloves in the car.
In addition to the prison term, Judge McNulty sentenced Dorsey to four years of supervised release and ordered her to pay $59,387 in restitution.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment against Williams are merely accusations and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents with the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford in Newark, with the investigation. He also thanked the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office and the Middlesex Borough, Piscataway, Clifton, Metuchen, North Plainfield, and Plainfield Police Departments for their roles in the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Osmar J. Benvenuto of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
Defense counsel: Anthony J. Iacullo Esq., Nutley, New Jersey

Lancaster Pair Charged in Bank Robbery

An indictment was filed today charging Kyle Costello, 27, and Matthew Hill, 29, both of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with conspiracy to commit armed bank robbery, armed bank robbery, carrying and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and aiding and abetting, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. Hill is also charged with attempted bank robbery.
According to the indictment, on November 7, 2013, the defendants robbed the National Penn Bank, on Lancaster Pike in Shillington, Pennsylvania, at gunpoint. It is further alleged that on December 6, 2013, Hill tried to rob the Susquehanna Bank, on E. Market Street in York, Pennsylvania.
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum possible sentence of life in prison, with a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years consecutive to any other sentence imposed, and a fine of up to $1 million.
The case was investigated by the FBI, York City Police Department, Cumru Township Police Department, and Lancaster City Police Department, and it is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Salvatore L. Astolfi.
An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

FBI Complaint Charges Man with Robbing Escondido Bank

San Diego FBI Special Agent in Charge Daphne Hearn announces the arrest of David Paul Morris, age 29. Morris was arrested as a result of the investigation into the robbery of the U.S. Bank branch located at 125 North Broadway in Escondido, California, on Tuesday, February 25, 2014.
Morris was arrested on Friday, February 28, 2014, in the vicinity of the 4700 block of Pacific Highway in San Diego, California. Morris was arrested without incident by U.S. Marshals and San Diego County Sheriff’s Department deputies. The deputies were working in coordination with the FBI and Escondido Police Department, who are leading this investigation.
According to the federal complaint filed by an FBI special agent with the U.S. District Court, Southern District of California, case number 14MJ0781, Morris is charged with one count of violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(a), bank robbery. The complaint charges Morris with robbing the U.S. Bank branch located at 125 North Broadway in Escondido, California, on Tuesday, February 25, 2014.
According to the complaint, on Tuesday, February 25, 2014, at approximately 3:28 p.m., the U.S. Bank branch located at 125 North Broadway in Escondido, California, was robbed by an unknown male, subsequently identified as David Paul Morris. At the time of the robbery, Morris allegedly approached the victim teller and stated, “Money. Give me your money. Don’t pull the alarm. I can see your hands.” After obtaining a sum of money, Morris allegedly walked out the bank through the lobby doors and fled in an unknown direction.
On the evening of Tuesday, February 25, 2014, the FBI issued a news release to local television and print media outlets. This same evening, bank robbery surveillance photographs of the U.S. Bank robbery were aired during the 11:00 p.m. broadcast of local television stations.
On February 26, 2014, at approximately 12:00 a.m., 30 minutes after the bank surveillance photographs aired on local television stations, the Escondido Police Department received information from a television news viewer identifying Morris as the unknown male responsible for robbing the U.S. Bank branch at 125 North Broadway in Escondido, California. The FBI also received a similar call identifying Morris as the bank robber.
This information, along with additional investigation conducted by the Escondido Police Department and the FBI, led to federal bank robbery charges being filed against Morris.
Following his arrest on Friday, February 28, 2014, Morris was booked into the Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC), San Diego, California
This bank robbery is being investigated by the Escondido Police Department and the FBI. This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of California.
An arrest itself is not evidence that the defendant committed crimes charged. The defendant is presumed innocent until the government meets its burden in court of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Indictment Charges Philadelphia Man in Multiple Bank Heists

PHILADELPHIA—William Butler, 48, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was charged today by indictment with committing four armed bank robberies at two separate Center City banks in January 2014, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.
According to the indictment, Butler was armed with a knife when he robbed the Republic Bank branch at 1818 Market Street on January 17 and January 27 and the Citizens Bank branch at 1701 John F. Kennedy Boulevard on January 24 and January 28. Butler took just over $11,000 total in the four robberies.
If convicted, Butler faces a maximum possible sentence of 100 years in prison, five years of supervised release, a $1 million fine, and a $400 special assessment.
The case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Philadelphia Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anita Eve.
An indictment, information or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Armed Bank Robber Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Prison

BALTIMORE—U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Loushawn Adaryl Robinson, a/k/a “Cadillac,” age 36, of Baltimore, Maryland, today to 151 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for armed bank robbery. Judge Blake ordered Robinson to pay restitution of $23,639 and found that Robinson was a career offender, based on two previous convictions for robbery with a deadly weapon and armed robbery.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Stephen E. Vogt of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Chief James W. Johnson of the Baltimore County Police Department; Colonel Marcus L. Brown, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; and Carroll County Sheriff Kenneth Tregoning.
According to Robinson’s plea agreement, on September 29, 2012, Robinson and two other men, one of them armed with a gun, robbed the Carroll Community Bank in Sykesville, Maryland. During the robbery, Robinson forced one of the tellers to take him to the vault, but the teller was unable to open the vault. Robinson subsequently zip-tied the teller’s hands while she was on her knees in the vault and closed the door. The robbers fled the bank with $28,411, but dropped $4,772 in the parking lot, which was recovered by law enforcement. Law enforcement followed the robbers and during the course of the pursuit, Robinson crashed his car into a tree near an elementary school and was arrested. Law enforcement recovered the wig Robinson had worn during the robbery, zipties, and a key to the vault, which had been taken from the bank.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the FBI, Baltimore County Police Department, Maryland State Police, and Carroll County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Judson T. Mihok and Gregory R. Bockin, who prosecuted the case.

Bank Robber Pleads Guilty to Five Robberies

BALTIMORE—Rodney Scott Bush, age 49, of Fort Washington, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit bank robbery and five bank robberies. As part of his plea agreement, Bush also admitted committing two additional bank robberies.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Stephen E. Vogt of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Anne Arundel County Police Chief Kevin Davis; and Chief Mark A. Magaw of the Prince George’s County Police Department.
“This case highlights the importance of the initial response of patrol officers,” said Anne Arundel County Police Chief Kevin Davis. “This repeat offender is in jail because an alert patrol officer observed suspicious activity while responding to a call.”
According to his plea agreement, from December 8, 2012 through July 17, 2013, Bush committed seven bank robberies, stealing a total of $38,894. In each robbery, Bush handed the teller a note demanding money. Most of the notes also stated that Bush had a gun or threatened some other harm, and Bush often implied that he had a weapon. The banks were located in Upper Marlboro, Lanham, Severna Park, Gambrills, Laurel, Bowie, and Glen Burnie, Maryland.
Moments after the robbery in Glen Burnie on July 17, 2013, an Anne Arundel County Police officer responding to the bank robbery saw Bush in the passenger seat of a vehicle removing the distinctive sweater that he wore during the robbery. The vehicle was being driven by a woman, later identified as Jacqueline Isaacs. The officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but Isaacs sped off and led police on a high-speed pursuit. Isaacs continued to flee from the officers for more than 10 miles, eventually crashing into a van. Officers arrested Bush and Isaacs, who were taken to the hospital and treated for injuries sustained during the crash.
The vehicle was searched and officers recovered the mobile phones used by Bush and Isaacs, the demand note, shirt and glasses worn by Bush during the robbery, and cash stolen from the bank.
Bush faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on each of the five bank robbery counts; and a maximum of five years in prison for the conspiracy. U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander scheduled sentencing for July 9, 2014, at 10:00 a.m.
Jacqueline Isaccs, age 55, also of Fort Washington, pleaded guilty to the July 17, 2013 bank robbery and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 18, 2014, at 10:00 a.m.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the FBI, Anne Arundel County Police Department, and Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Budlow and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie D. Podlesni, who are prosecuting the case.

Pooler Resident Indicted in Two Local Robberies

SAVANNAH, GA—Bobby Joe White, Jr., 42, of Pooler, Georgia, was indicted last week by the federal grand jury sitting in Savannah for robbing the Sea Island Bank and the Biomat USA Savannah Blood Plasma Donation Center. According to the indictment, White allegedly robbed the Sea Island Bank on November 1, 2013, by force, violence, and intimidation. Three weeks later, on November 22, 2013, White allegedly robbed the Biomat USA Savannah Plasma Donation Center of about $8,000 in cash.
White faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release for each robbery charge. An indictment is only an accusation and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case arose out of an investigation by the FBI Safe Streets Violent Crime Task Force of Southeast Georgia, which was assisted by the Pooler Police Department and the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Charlie Bourne is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

FBI Seeks Suspect in Aurora and Denver Bank Robberies

The Aurora and Denver Police Departments, along with the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force (RMSSTF), are investigating two bank robberies suspected of being committed by the same individual.
Chase Bank
14601 East Colfax Avenue
Aurora, Colorado
February 3, 2014, 11:50 a.m.
TCF Bank
18520 East Green Valley Ranch Boulevard
Denver, Colorado
February 10, 2014, 11:20 a.m.
The suspect is described as a black male, approximately 20 to 30 years of age, approximately 5’8” to 6’0” in height, about 160 to 200 pounds, with a thin build and a mustache.
Photos from February 3 Chase Bank robbery:

Photos from February 10 TCF Bank robbery:

The suspect entered the bank, presented a demand note, and fled.
Bank robbery is punishable by a 20-year prison sentence for each offense and increases if a dangerous weapon is used in the commission of the crime.
The FBI continues to provide financial institutions with the best practices for security to make them less vulnerable to robberies.
If anyone has any information on the bank robberies above, or any bank robbery, please call the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force at 303-629-7171; or remain anonymous and earn up to $2,000 by calling Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867).

Bank Robber Sentenced to Federal Prison

MEDFORD, OR—John Edward Perdue, 54, of Grants Pass, Oregon, was sentenced today to 151 months in federal prison for committing two bank robberies in Grants Pass. During the February 21, 2013 robbery of the Umpqua Bank, Perdue, with his face partially concealed by a hooded sweatshirt, rushed through the front door and went behind the service counter where the teller was on the telephone with a customer. Perdue tapped her on the shoulder and ordered her to get off the phone and unlock the drawer at her teller station. Perdue grabbed money from the drawers and fled the bank with $10,580. The teller told detectives that she felt “panicked” and “surprised,” fearing that if she did anything contrary to what he was asking, he might harm her.
During the April 1, 2013 robbery of the Bank of the Cascades, Perdue entered the bank and again walked behind the service counter, ordering the male teller to get on his knees and not get up. Perdue emptied the money from the male teller’s drawer. Perdue then ordered a female teller to unlock an adjoining drawer, but when she was unable to open it, he removed money from the drawer at her station. As Perdue was leaving the bank, he dropped some of the cash and scrambled around on the floor trying to pick up as much as he could before fleeing with $8,612. The teller told detectives that she was scared during the ordeal due to the excited manner in which Perdue was acting and how he was ordering them around. This was the second time Perdue had robbed this same bank while she was employed as a teller. That robbery occurred in 2008.
According to sentencing documents filed by AUSA Byron Chatfield, Perdue was previously convicted in 1996 for committing two other bank robberies while he was an escapee from the Oregon Department of Corrections. He was sentenced to 87 months in prison for those robberies. He also received additional state sentences for the escape, as well as subsequent sentences for weapons possession and an attempted escape from the Oregon State Penitentiary. Thereafter, within a month of his release from custody, Perdue committed two additional bank robberies, one at the Bank of the Cascades in Grants Pass in 2008 and the other at the U.S. Bank in Roseburg, Oregon. Perdue was sentenced to 28 months in state prison, as well as additional 24 month consecutive sentence in federal prison. Perdue has been incarcerated for committing criminal offenses for much of the last 20 years and he committed the current bank robberies less than a year after his release from custody.
Senior U.S. District Judge Owen M. Panner sentenced Perdue as a career pffender, which enhances the sentence for commission of a serious violent felony after two or more convictions for other serious violent felonies. Perdue was also ordered to pay $19,192 in restitution to the banks.
This case was investigated by the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety and the FBI in Medford, Oregon, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Byron Chatfield.