Bronx Man Pleads Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court to Bank Robberies in New York and Las Vegas

January 21, 2010 - PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; JOSEPH M. DEMAREST, JR., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"); and RAYMOND W. KELLY, Police Commissioner of the City of New York ("NYPD") announced that RONALD G. ATKINSON pleaded guilty today in Manhattan federal court to robbing banks in New York and Las Vegas.

According to the Information to which ATKINSON pleaded guilty, documents previously filed in this case, and statements made during today's guilty plea proceeding before United States Magistrate Judge THEODORE H. KATZ:

Beginning in March 2009, ATKINSON robbed six banks in New York City, New York and Las Vegas, Nevada, where the defendant was apprehended on June 17, 2009. After robbing four banks in New York, ATKINSON traveled to Las Vegas, where he robbed two additional banks before being caught by local police. ATKINSON robbed a Citibank, a Sovereign Bank, a Chase Bank, and a Capital One Bank in Manhattan; and a Nevada State Bank and a Citibank in Las Vegas.

During the robbery of the Capital One Bank in Manhattan, ATKINSON placed a written note on a bank teller's counter which read: "Give me all the money, don't give me no ink, don't pull the button." When the teller handed over some of the cash from the drawer, ATKINSON demanded more, saying, "You have 15 seconds to give me all you have or else I'm going to start shooting everyone in here."

ATKINSON, 36, of Bronx, New York, pleaded guilty to six counts of bank robbery. On each charge, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum potential fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. ATKINSON is scheduled be sentenced by Judge WILLIAM H. PAULEY on May 21, 2010.

Mr. BHARARA praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the NYPD in this case, and thanked the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for their assistance.

Assistant United States Attorney RYAN P. POSCABLO is in charge of the prosecution.