Carney’s Point Man Admits His Role in Five Southern New Jersey Bank Robberies

CAMDEN, N.J.—A Carney's Point man pleaded guilty today to a one-count Information that charges him with bank robbery, admitting his role in planning and committing five bank robberies in southern New Jersey, Acting U.S. Attorney Ralph J. Marra, Jr. announced.

Howard Hiles, 34, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler to one count of bank robbery specifically for the April 18, 2009, robbery of a Sun National Bank branch in Vineland of approximately $8,957. Hiles, however, also admitted committing four additional bank robberies, and all of the conduct will be taken into consideration at sentencing. Judge Kugler continued the defendant’s detention and scheduled sentencing for Nov. 19.

At his plea hearing, Hiles admitted that on April 18, 2009, while at home with his girlfriend, Jenny Hedden, 30, of Carney's Point, and Dustin Corney, 32, of Hopewell, Cumberland County, they all planned to rob a bank. As part of their plan to commit the bank robbery,

Hiles admitted that Hedden wrote a demand note that said something to the effect of “This is a robbery. Put all the money in the bag.” Hiles admitted that he then took the demand note and Hedden’s car keys and left with Corney and drove to a Sun National Bank branch in Vineland. Hiles admitted that Corney went into the bank, wearing a motorcycle helmet, and passed the demand note to a teller. Hiles admitted that Corney fled the bank and returned to the car with money. The two men then returned to the house and dumped out a pile on money onto a table, Hiles admitted. Hiles admitted that Hedden and Corney then took some of the proceeds of the bank robbery and bought heroin.

In addition to the April 18 bank robbery, Hiles admitted committing the following bank robberies:

• May 4, 2009, along with Hedden robbed the Harvest Community Bank in Pennsville,of approximately $1,500;
• May 11, 2009, along with Corney robbed the TD Bank in Gloucester Township, of $385;
• May 11, 2009, along with Hedden and Corney robbed the Ocean City Home Bank in Marmora, of $1,668;
• May 18, 2009, along with Hedden, robbed of the Newfield Bank in Hopewell Township, of $1,685.

Hiles admitted that a portion of the proceeds from each bank robberies was used to purchase heroin.

All three defendants were arrested at different locations on May 18. Hedden pleaded before Judge Kugler to one count of bank robbery on Aug. 3 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 12. Corney is currently pending trial.

The charge of bank robbery carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the aggregate loss to the victims or gain to the defendants. In determining an actual sentence, Judge Kugler will consult the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges that take into account the severity and characteristics of the offense, the defendant's criminal history, if any, and other factors. The judge, however, is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence.

Parole has been abolished in the federal system. Defendants who are given custodial terms must serve nearly all that time.

Marra credited Special Agents of the FBI’s Atlantic City Resident Agency and South Jersey Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Weysan Dun in Newark and Special Agent in Charge Janice K. Fedarcyk in Philadelphia, respectively, and Trooper with the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Joseph R. Fuentes, Superintendent, along with the Police Departments of Pennsville, Gloucester Township and Vineland, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason M. Richardson of the Criminal Division in Camden.