Irvington, N.J. Man Charged in Connection with Ten Bank Robberies

TRENTON, NJ—An Irvington, N.J. man who allegedly committed ten bank robberies in several different counties appeared in federal court this morning to face related charges, United States Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Maurice Richardson, 43, has been in custody since his December 1, 2010, arrest by officers of the Old Bridge Police Department. Richardson appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Lois Goodman in Trenton federal court on a Complaint charging him with three counts of bank robbery. Judge Goodman ordered the defendant detained following the proceeding.

According to the Complaint filed in Trenton federal court:

Richardson is charged with robbing a Capital One Bank in Marlboro, N.J., on December 1, 2010; a Capital One Bank in Paramus, N.J., on September 1, 2010; and a TD Bank in Howell Township, N.J., on Aug. 6, 2010. The Complaint also references Richardson’s conduct related to seven additional robberies, for a total of ten, as follows:

Date Bank Amount Stolen
Dec. 14, 2007 Commerce Bank; Morris Township, N.J. $6,000
May 31, 2008 Commerce Bank; Rahway, N.J. $10,432
July 27, 2008 Commerce Bank; Nutley, N.J. $6,116
Sept. 28, 2008 Commerce Bank; Nutley, N.J. $9,846
April 6, 2009 Capital One Bank; Marlboro, N.J. $2,509
Dec. 21, 2009 Capital One Bank; Marlboro, N.J. $1,261
July 3, 2010 Capital One Bank; Hasbrouck Heights, N.J. $2,420
Aug. 6, 2010 TD Bank; Howell Township, N.J. $2,160
September 1, 2010 Capital One Bank; Paramus, N.J. $7,507
December 1, 2010 Capital One Bank; Marlboro, N.J. $2,555

Richardson entered the banks and gave notes to the tellers, which variously demanded money in large bills, stated that he had a gun, and threatened he would shoot the tellers if they did not comply. Witnesses at some of the robberies observed the defendant leaving the crime scenes in a burgundy SUV.

On December 1, 2010, a Marlboro police officer observed a burgundy Chevrolet Suburban with tinted windows entering Route 9 North from a street adjacent to the Capital One Bank’s parking lot. After an approximately mile-long pursuit, the vehicle struck the concrete wall and come to a stop. Richardson was apprehended when got out of the SUV and attempted to flee. A 9 mm bullet was found in the vehicle, and a 9mm handgun was found after a search of the area near where Richardson crashed.

It was the third time he had robbed the same bank branch in less than two years.

If convicted of the three bank robbery charges, Richardson faces a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 on each count.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward in Newark; along with the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, the Old Bridge Police Department, Marlboro Police Department, Howell Police Department, Morris Township Police Department, Rahway Police Department, Nutley Police Department, Hasbrouck Heights Police Department and Paramus Police Department for the work leading to the identification and apprehension of the defendant.

The government is represented by Assistant United States Attorney R. Joseph Gribko of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton.

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

Citizens with information regarding these or any unsolved bank robberies are encouraged to call the FBI at 973-792-3000.

10-371 ###
Defense counsel: Lisa van Hoek, Federal Public Defender, Newark, N.J.