NEWARK – A Maplewood man pleaded guilty today to a string of bank robberies throughout northern New Jersey, for which he earned the monikers “Hat Bandit” and “Mad Hatter” from the media, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

James G. Madison, 50, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares to a sixcount Superseding Information charging bank robbery. Judge Linares continued the defendant’s detention pending sentencing.

Madison was originally scheduled to plead guilty on Aug. 29, but backed out when he appeared in court.

At his plea hearing today, Madison admitted that between September 2006 and July 2007, he successfully robbed 18 banks and attempted to rob one bank, always by showing a note demanding money and while wearing a hat. Madison described with specificity many of the signature caps he wore during each of the robberies.

“Madison was prolific and original. He may even have thought his method was a smart or a cute way of robbing banks,” said Christie. “In fact, there was nothing cute or smart about it; he’s just another greedy thug who stole other people’s money.”

“James Madison will not rob anymore banks,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Weysan Dun. “For the FBI this culminates an intense investigation. My hat is off to our agents and support employees who worked many long hours on this case. I also wish to commend the many other agencies and county prosecutor’s offices which dedicated tremendous effort to bringing James Madison to justice.”

Madison further admitted that he threatened to use a gun during two of the bank robberies and that he stole a total of nearly $81,000 from all of the banks. The robberies he admitted committing are as follows:

On July 22, 2007, within hours of the nineteenth bank robbery, an investigation by Special Agents assigned to the FBI’s Newark Division revealed that Madison was the offender. The next morning, Newark FBI agents, assisted by officers of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office and the Union Police Department, observed the vehicle that witnesses had seen Madison escape in parked behind Madison’s apartment complex in Maplewood, directly next to Madison’s own vehicle. He was confronted by the agents and officers, questioned and detained, and was later charged with the July 22 robbery at the Bank of America in Union.

Further investigation by Newark FBI agents revealed that Madison had committed the remaining 18 bank robberies.

Madison faces a maximum statutory prison term of 20 years and a fine of $250,000 on each count to which he pleaded guilty. Madison has agreed to be sentenced for the six bank robberies charged in the Superseding Information.

Under the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, Madison would face a possible sentencing range of between 92 and 115 months in prison for those six robberies. However, the government will argue for a higher sentencing range under the Sentencing Guidelines – 110 to 137 months in prison – to account for the additional 13 bank robberies.

While Judge Linares must consult the advisory Sentencing Guidelines in formulating a sentence, he has wide discretion, and can sentence within the ranges, above or below them. Parole has been abolished in the federal system. Defendants who are given custodial terms must serve nearly all that time.

Madison will also face a mandatory restitution order in the total amount taken from the banks, $80,733.

Christie credited Special Agents of the FBI’s Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Weysan Dun, as well as local police officers in Essex, Middlesex, Morris, and Union Counties who investigated Madison’s crimes, for his capture and prosecution. Christie also thanked for their cooperation and assistance, the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow; the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi; the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Paula A. Dow, and the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Bruce J. Kaplan.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shana W. Chen of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.

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Defense Attorney: Donald J. McCauley, Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Newark.