Essex Man Admits Role in Two Bank Robberies

NEWARK—An Essex County, New Jersey man today admitted robbing the Garden State Community Bank in Newark, New Jersey, on two separate occasions, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Alfred Ferguson, 55, of Newark, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler in Newark federal court to an information charging him with two counts of bank robbery. On October 9, 2012, Ferguson was arrested fleeing the scene of his most recent bank robbery on a bicycle.

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

Alfred Ferguson committed two bank robberies—both of the Garden State Community Bank in Newark—on September 17, 2012, and October 9, 2012. Ferguson used a similar procedure for each robbery: After entering the bank wearing a red bandana over the lower part of his face, Ferguson would verbally threaten the bank teller, vault over the glass partition, and empty money from bank tellers’ cash drawers.

Each charge of bank robbery is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. Sentencing is scheduled for June 5, 2013.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge David Velasquez, with the investigation leading to charges. He also thanked the Newark Police Department for their contribution to the case.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Eskew of the U.S. Attorney’s Office General Crimes Unit in Newark.