NEWARK, N.J. - An Essex County, New Jersey, man was convicted today of robbing the same Capital One Bank in Newark twice, including once in an armed robbery, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced.
Gregory A. Jones, 60, of Newark, was convicted of one count of bank robbery, one count of armed bank robbery and one count of using a firearm during a crime of violence. Jones was convicted following a one-week trial before U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty in Newark federal court. The jury deliberated less than six hours before returning the guilty verdicts.
According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial:
On May 6, 2014, Jones entered the Capital One Bank wearing dark glasses and a scarf around his head and presented the teller a note demanding cash. After Jones left the bank with stolen money a hidden dye pack burst, and he left his glasses, scarf, and hat at the scene of the crime. Law enforcement recovered the glasses, hat and scarf near the bank next to currency, saturated with ink from the dye pack. DNA recovered from the glasses, hat and scarf matched a DNA sample that was lawfully obtained from Jones.
On Sept. 19, 2014, Jones entered the bank again, brandished a firearm from underneath his sweatshirt, and told a teller to give him money, stating that he had a gun and would shoot. Jones fired the weapon into the ceiling and left with several thousands of dollars. He was later identified using surveillance video and witness statements.
The bank robbery count carries a maximum potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gain or loss. The armed bank robbery count carries a maximum potential penalty of up to 25 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gain or loss. The discharging a firearm during the bank robbery count carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison, which must be served consecutive to the other counts. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick credited special agents with the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher in Newark; N.J. State Police, under the direction of Col. Rick Fuentes; the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray; and the Newark Division of Public Safety, under the direction of Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose, with the investigation leading to the guilty verdict.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Svetlana M. Eisenberg and Daniel Shapiro of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
