North Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Robbing New Jersey Bank and Fast Food Restaurants, Admits to Eight Robberies

TRENTON, NJ—A Kingston, N.C., man admitted today to robbing a bank, six fast food restaurants, and a convenience store in New Jersey’s Monmouth and Middlesex Counties between January 29 and February 12, 2011, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Timothy Lester Johnson, a/k/a “Amiri Allah,” pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of bank robbery and two counts of commercial robbery for crimes he committed on February 11 and 12, 2011. Johnson entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Joel A. Pisano in Trenton federal court.

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

Johnson admitted to robbing the following commercial establishments, culminating in the February 12, 2011, bank robbery:

Date Business Address

Jan. 29, 2011 Dunkin Donuts 231 Third Avenue

Long Branch, N.J.

Feb. 3, 2011 Burger King 139 Highway 35

Eatontown, N.J.

Feb. 4, 2011 Quick Chek 3607 Highway 33

Neptune, N.J.

Feb. 6, 2011 Dunkin Donuts 587 Fayette Street

Perth Amboy, N.J.

Feb. 8, 2011 McDonalds 588 Shrewsbury Avenue

Tinton Falls, N.J.

Feb. 11, 2011 Dunkin Donuts 2112 Highway 35 South

Ocean Township, N.J.

Feb. 11, 2011 Dunkin Donuts 4060 Asbury Avenue

Tinton Falls, N.J.

Feb. 12, 2011 PNC Bank 4620 Route 9 South

Howell, NJ

Johnson also admitted to brandishing what appeared to be a firearm in each robbery.

Review of surveillance video from the robberies and additional investigation led law enforcement to a Neptune, N.J., motor inn where Johnson was staying. On February 23, 2011, law enforcement observed Johnson place bags in the trunk of a car and depart the motel. Johnson was detained after law enforcement stopped the vehicle.

The three counts to which Johnson pleaded guilty each carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. He is currently scheduled to be sentenced on November 7, 2011.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward in Newark; along with the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Peter E. Warshaw Jr.; Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Bruce J. Kaplan; Howell Township Police Department; Long Branch Police Department; Eatontown Police Department; Neptune Township Police Department; Perth Amboy Police Department; Tinton Falls Police Department; and Township of Ocean Police Department for the work leading to the identification and apprehension of the defendant.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney John E. Clabby of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton.

Defense counsel: Brian Reilly Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Trenton