Newark Man Admits Role in Bank Robbery

TRENTON, NJ—A Newark, N.J., man today admitted his role in conspiring with his uncle to rob or attempt to rob two banks, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Juan Perez, 22, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson in Trenton federal court to a three-count Information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit bank robbery, one count of attempted bank robbery, and one count of bank robbery.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Perez admitted that from June 2010 until August 2010 he conspired with his uncle, Nathaniel Barreto, 29, of Newark, to attempt to rob a PNC bank in Bloomfield, N.J., on Aug. 9, 2010, and to rob another PNC Bank in Whippany, N.J., on Aug. 17, 2010. Perez admitted going into the PNC bank to scope it out for customers and surveillance cameras. He admitted driving the getaway car in both crimes. Barreto, who brandished what appeared to be a firearm in both banks, entered a guilty plea before Judge Wolfson on Oct.12, 2011.

Perez faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on Count One, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on Counts Two and Three, as well as fines of up to $250,000. Perez’s sentencing before Judge Wolfson is scheduled for March 1, 2012.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward in Newark, along with the Hanover Township Police Department, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, the New Jersey State Police, and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office for the work leading to today’s guilty plea.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shirley U. Emehelu of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.

Defense counsel: Roy B. Greenman Esq., Union, N.J.

Perez, Juan Information