Essex County, New Jersey, Man Sentenced To 20 Years For Robbing Two Banks, Firing A Weapo

NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County, New Jersey, man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for robbing the same Capital One Bank in Newark twice, including once in an armed robbery, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Gregory A. Jones, 61, of Newark, was previously 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, who imposed today’s sentence in Newark federal court.

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 officers 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.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito 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. Patrick J. Callahan; the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino; and the Newark Division of Public Safety, under the direction of Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose, with the investigation leading to today’s sentence.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Shapiro of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.

Defense counsel: Assistant Federal Defenders Carol Gillen and David Holman