Pennsylvania Man Admits Robbing Two Banks in One Month

TRENTON—A Pennsylvania man today admitted robbing two banks—one in New Jersey and one in Pennsylvania—in October 2011, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Odel Taitt, 33, of Denver, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Mary L. Cooper to an information charging him with two counts of bank robbery.

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

Taitt admitted that on October 6, 2011, he robbed the National Penn Bank in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap. He presented the teller with a note demanding money and stating that he had a gun. The teller complied with Taitt’s demands and Taitt fled the bank.

He also admitted that on October 25, 2011, he entered the PNC Bank in Tewksbury Township, New Jersey wearing sunglasses and a gray derby hat. He presented the teller with a note that asked for $20, $50, and $100 bills and again threatened that he had a gun. He received the money and fled the bank. Taitt was apprehended later that day in Hunterdon County.

The charges to which Taitt pleaded guilty are each punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is currently scheduled for July 16, 2013. Taitt is in federal custody pending sentencing.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. He also thanked the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Anthony P. Kearns, III; the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow; the Tewksbury Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Thomas Holmes; the New Providence Police Department, under the direction of Chief Anthony D. Buccelli, Jr.; the Bernards Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Bobowicz; and the Wyomissing Police Department, under the direction of Chief Jeffrey R. Biehl, for their contributions to the case.

The government is represented by Deputy U.S. Attorney Nelson S.T. Thayer Jr. in Camden and Assistant U.S. Attorney John E. Clabby of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton.

Defense counsel: Andrea Bergman Esq. Trenton