NEWARK – A Newark man pleaded guilty today to committing an armed bank robbery of the Union Center Bank in November 2003 and taking more than $48,000 in cash, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

Basim Henry, 25, entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden to a one-count Information charging armed bank robbery. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 29 at 11:30 a.m. Henry is being held in federal detention pending sentencing.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Walsh, Henry abandoned his Pontiac automobile at the scene of the robbery and fled in another waiting vehicle. Although Henry had purchased the Pontiac using an alias, FBI Special Agents developed evidence which confirmed that the automobile abandoned at the Union Center Bank belonged to Henry.

At his plea hearing, Henry admitted that he was approached in early November 2003 by his accomplice Khayree Holloway, 28, of Newark, and a female friend of Holloway about robbing the Union Center Bank located in the Township of Union, in Union County.

Henry admitted that on the morning of Nov. 14, 2003, he drove in his car, along with Holloway, from his residence to the Union Center Bank. Henry stated that the female accomplice drove to the bank in her own car. While at the bank, Henry admitted that he and Holloway saw two bank employees carrying canisters of money approach a drive-up ATM. At that time, he and Holloway ran towards the bank employees in order to rob them. While running toward the employees, Henry admitted that he was openly carrying a pistol. And while demanding the money from the bank employees he was brandishing the gun, Henry admitted.

Henry admitted he and Holloway took $48,805 in cash from the bank employees and then fled from the bank on foot, running through a nearby alleyway, to where the female accomplice was waiting in her car. Henry admitted he abandoned his vehicle at the scene of the bank robbery.

Holloway pleaded guilty on March 24, 2006, and admitted committing the violent crime with Henry. Holloway’s sentencing is not scheduled at this time. The investigation is continuing into the identity of the female accomplice.

The one count of armed bank robbery carries a statutory maximum penalty of 25 year in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

In determining the actual sentence, Judge Hayden will consult the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges that take into account the severity and characteristics of the offense, the defendant's criminal history, if any, and other factors. The judge, however, is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence.

Parole has been abolished in the federal system. Defendants who are given custodial terms must serve nearly all that time.

Christie credited Special Agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Leslie Weiser, Jr., in Newark, with investigation of the case. Christie also recognized the investigative efforts of detectives from the Township of Union Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Thomas Kraemer, for their response to the scene of the crime and gathering of vital evidence in the moments following the crime.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Walsh of the Commercial Crimes Unit in Newark.

Defense Attorney: John M. Murphy, Jr., Esq., Staten Island, NY