Frank McBride, 27, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, was taken into custody Friday, August 8, 2014 by agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and officers from the Scranton Police Department.

McBride is charged by criminal complaint with bank robbery and interference with commerce by threats or violence (Hobbs Act violation), in connection with telephoned bomb threats and robbery demands to businesses in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, including:

• July 7, 2014–Gerrity’s Supermarket, 320 Meadow Avenue, Scranton, Pennsylvania
• July 8, 2014–NBT Bank, 500 Lackawanna Avenue, Mayfield, Pennsylvania
• July 8, 2014–Citizens Savings Bank, 156 South Main Avenue, Scranton, Pennsylvania
• July 8, 2014–PNC Bank, 224 Dunmore Street, Throop, Pennsylvania
• July 11, 2014–Fulton Bank of New Jersey, 9 Ledgewood Avenue, Netcong, New Jersey
• July 30, 2014–Wells Fargo Bank, 330 Meadow Avenue, Scranton, Pennsylvania
• July 30, 2014–Peoples Security Bank, 420 Davis Street, Scranton, Pennsylvania
• July 30, 2014–PNC Bank, 650 Main Street, Avoca, Pennsylvania
• July 30, 2014–Wells Fargo Bank, 1130 Wyoming Avenue, Exeter, Pennsylvania
• July 30, 2014–PNC Bank, 501 Wyoming Avenue, West Pittston, Pennsylvania
• August 1, 2014–Sussex Bank, 20 Fowler Street, Port Jervis, New York
• August 1, 2014–TD Bank, 205 East Main Street, Port Jervis, New York

A criminal complaint is an accusation; a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

McBride’s arrest follows an investigation by the FBI’s Scranton Resident Agency, in conjunction with the Scranton, Throop, Mayfield, West Pittston, Exeter, Avoca, Port Jervis (NY), and Netcong Borough (NJ) Police Departments, the Morris County (NJ) Prosecutor’s Office, the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office, and the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office.

“These crimes were committed across many jurisdictions, requiring close coordination among all the agencies involved,” said Sean Quinn, Supervisory Special Agent of the FBI’s Scranton RA. “This has been a great example of the FBI and our many law enforcement partners working together to quickly identify and arrest a dangerous subject.”

“The Scranton Police Department would like to commend all the law enforcement personnel involved in this investigation for their cooperative efforts and outstanding investigative work in bringing a safe and successful ending to this multi-jurisdictional criminal activity,” said Scranton Police Chief Carl Graziano.