North Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Robbing New Jersey Bank and Fast Food Restaurants, Admits to Eight Robberies
| U.S. Attorney’s Office July 27, 2011 |
TRENTON, NJ—A Kingston, N.C., man admitted today to robbing a bank, six fast food restaurants, and a convenience store in New Jersey’s Monmouth and Middlesex Counties between January 29 and February 12, 2011, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Timothy Lester Johnson, a/k/a “Amiri Allah,” pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of bank robbery and two counts of commercial robbery for crimes he committed on February 11 and 12, 2011. Johnson entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Joel A. Pisano in Trenton federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Johnson admitted to robbing the following commercial establishments, culminating in the February 12, 2011, bank robbery:
| Date | Business | Address |
| Jan. 29, 2011 | Dunkin Donuts | 231 Third Avenue Long Branch, N.J. |
| Feb. 3, 2011 | Burger King | 139 Highway 35 Eatontown, N.J. |
| Feb. 4, 2011 | Quick Chek | 3607 Highway 33 Neptune, N.J. |
| Feb. 6, 2011 | Dunkin Donuts | 587 Fayette Street Perth Amboy, N.J. |
| Feb. 8, 2011 | McDonalds | 588 Shrewsbury Avenue Tinton Falls, N.J. |
| Feb. 11, 2011 | Dunkin Donuts | 2112 Highway 35 South Ocean Township, N.J. |
| Feb. 11, 2011 | Dunkin Donuts | 4060 Asbury Avenue Tinton Falls, N.J. |
| Feb. 12, 2011 | PNC Bank | 4620 Route 9 South Howell, NJ |
Johnson also admitted to brandishing what appeared to be a firearm in each robbery.
Review of surveillance video from the robberies and additional investigation led law enforcement to a Neptune, N.J., motor inn where Johnson was staying. On February 23, 2011, law enforcement observed Johnson place bags in the trunk of a car and depart the motel. Johnson was detained after law enforcement stopped the vehicle.
The three counts to which Johnson pleaded guilty each carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. He is currently scheduled to be sentenced on November 7, 2011.
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, under the direction of Peter E. Warshaw Jr.; Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Bruce J. Kaplan; Howell Township Police Department; Long Branch Police Department; Eatontown Police Department; Neptune Township Police Department; Perth Amboy Police Department; Tinton Falls Police Department; and Township of Ocean Police Department for the work leading to the identification and apprehension of the defendant.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney John E. Clabby of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton.
Defense counsel: Brian Reilly Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Trenton