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

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.

Seeking Serial Armed Robber Who Struck Alpharetta, Roswell

ATLANTA—Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Mark F. Giuliano, FBI Atlanta Field Office, in conjunction with Alpharetta Director of Public Safety Gary George and Roswell Police Chief Rusty Grant, requests the public’s assistance in identifying and locating a serial armed robber that has now struck twice in the Crabapple area of Alpharetta and Roswell, Georgia.
On Monday, September 30, 2013, at approximately 7:00 p.m., a lone white male entered the CVS store, located at 12070 Crabapple Rd., Roswell, Georgia, and, while brandishing a handgun, attempted a robbery. No injuries were reported during this attempted robbery.
On Tuesday, October 1, 2013, at 11:13 a.m., this same individual entered the Wells Fargo bank, located at 12450 Crabapple Road, Alpharetta, Georgia, and again brandished the same silver colored handgun while announcing a robbery. After obtaining an undisclosed amount of money, the robber departed the bank without further incident.
The robber is described as being a white male, 30-35 years of age, approximately five foot nine inches to six foot in height and weighing between 175-190lbs. He may have a thin go-tee and possible tattoos on his arm. He was observed wearing a dark Harley Davidson t-shirt during both of the robberies.
Any information regarding this individual or these robberies should be directed to the Alpharetta Police Department, tel. (678)-297-6322, Roswell Police Department, tel. (770) 640-4100, or the FBI, tel. (404) 679-9000. There is a reward being offered in this matter.