NEWARK, NJ—A Hudson County, New Jersey, man was indicted today in connection with his alleged role in an armed robbery spree of banks and commercial establishments in Bergen and Hudson counties in July 2013, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Gary Bohanan, 44, of North Bergen, New Jersey, is charged by superseding indictment with conspiracy to commit armed bank robberies and Hobbs Act robberies, two counts of armed bank robbery, and two counts of armed Hobbs Act robbery.

Bohanan and Angel Feliu, 20, of North Bergen, were charged by indictment on April 1, 2014, with committing two bank robberies in Secaucus and Fairview, New Jersey. In a separate proceeding today, Feliu pleaded guilty to an information charging him with two counts of armed bank robbery for his role in those robberies. Bohanan will be arraigned in Newark federal court on the superseding indictment before U.S. Judge Claire C. Cecchi at a date and time to be determined.

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

On July 10, 2013, Bohanan and one other individual, both wearing masks, entered a McDonald’s restaurant in North Bergen. Bohanan brandished a handgun and demanded money from the employees of McDonald’s. Bohanan and the other individual then took $1,600 from the cash registers and fled in a car driven by a third individual.

On July 18, 2013, Bohanan and other individuals cased Le Chateau restaurant in West New York, New Jersey, for the purpose of robbing it. Bohanan and the other individuals waited for an agent of the restaurant to close the restaurant, followed her home, and robbed her at gunpoint of $6,000 of proceeds from the restaurant outside her home.

On July 22, 2013, Bohanan, Feliu, and Josephine Chenet, 45, of North Bergen, allegedly robbed the Sovereign Bank (now Santander Bank) in Secaucus. (Charges from the April 1, 2014 indictment that had been pending against Chenet for her role in the bank robberies have been dismissed due to her death on June 22, 2014.)

On July 22, 2013, Bohanan and Feliu entered the bank at 10:11 a.m. Both men wore latex gloves and masks. Once inside the Sovereign Bank, Bohanan brandished a black handgun, jumped over the counter and proceeded to empty two drawers of money into a black bag, while pointing the handgun at bank tellers. As Bohanan emptied the drawers, Feliu stood guard. Bohanan and Feliu then fled the bank with $21,961.

On July 26, 2013, Bohanan, Feliu, and Chenet robbed the TD Bank, located in Fairview, New Jersey. Bohanan and Feliu entered the Bank at 9:48 a.m. Bohanan and Feliu both wore latex gloves and masks. Feliu, however, was captured by the Bank’s video surveillance system before he pulled the mask on. Feliu brandished a knife at employees and customers. Bohanan brandished what appeared to be a black handgun, but was later identified as an air pistol. Bohanan then jumped over the counter and emptied two drawers of money into a black bag, while pointing the air pistol at bank tellers. As Bohanan emptied the drawers, Feliu stood guard and held bystanders back by brandishing the knife.

Bohanan and Feliu fled on foot and were followed by concerned citizens and victims of the bank robbery. Bohanan encountered a white GMC Savana van, pointed the air pistol at the driver and ordered the driver out. Bohanan then attempted to flee the area by driving away in the van, but crashed it into a nearby structure after a short distance, at which point he attempted to flee the area on foot.

Law enforcement and concerned citizens located Bohanan hiding under a truck, which was parked a short distance away. He had with him a black bag containing a black air pistol and money covered with red dye. Feliu separated from Bohanan after the bank robbery and was also arrested shortly after the bank robbery.

The two counts of armed bank robbery with which Bohanan is charged each carry a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The counts of Hobbs Act robbery with which Bohanan is charged each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The count of conspiracy with which Bohanan is charged carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

Feliu also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit armed bank robberies and Hobbs Act robberies. The counts of armed bank robbery that Feliu pleaded guilty to each carry a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The count of conspiracy that Feliu plead guilty to carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Feliu is detained pending sentencing, which is scheduled for Nov. 20, 2014.

U.S. Attorney Fishman praised special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford, with the investigation. He also thanked the Fairview, North Bergen, and Secaucus police departments for their contributions to the case.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco J. Navarro of the U.S. Attorney’s Office General Crimes Unit in Newark.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Defense counsel:
Feliu: Kevin F. Carlucci Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender
Bohanan: Carl Herman Esq., West Orange, N.J.
Chenet: Michael Gilberti, Esq., Little Silver, N.J.