Elizabeth Man Charged with Robbing a Rahway, New Jersey Bank

NEWARK, NJ—An Elizabeth, New Jersey man appeared this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Claire C. Cecchi on the charge of robbing a TD Bank in Rahway, New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Israel Cosme, 28, was arrested Tuesday by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”). He was detained following this afternoon’s proceeding.

According to documents filed and statements made in federal court:

The Rahway TD Bank Cosme allegedly robbed on May 4, 2010, was the third bank Cosme hit in the past two weeks. The defendant is also alleged to have robbed a TD Bank in Union, New Jersey and a Chase Bank in Roselle, New Jersey – both on April 28, 2010. Cosme is alleged to have used written notes to threaten the tellers at all three banks into giving him a total of approximately $7,000.

Prior to his arrest, Cosme was on supervised release following a prison term he served after pleading guilty in 2005 to the armed holdup of a Woodbridge, New Jersey bank. During his 2005 guilty plea proceeding, Cosme also admitted to robbing a bank in Rahway—the same bank he allegedly robbed last week.

If convicted of the charge in the Complaint, Cosme faces a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.

In determining an actual sentence, the judge to whom the case is assigned would, upon a conviction, consult the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges that take into account the severity and characteristics of the offense, the defendant’s criminal history, if any, and other factors. The judge, however, is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence. Parole has been abolished in the federal system. Defendants who are given custodial terms must serve nearly all that time.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited the FBI, along with the Township of Union Police Department, Borough of Roselle Police Department, Rahway Police Department, and the U.S. Probation Office - District of New Jersey, for the work leading to the identification and apprehension of the defendant.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Wolfe of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.

The charges and allegations contained in the Complaint are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Defense counsel: Anthony Thomas, Federal Public Defender, Newark, New Jersey