Rahway Man Admits Committing a Dozen Bank Robberies Throughout New Jersey

CAMDEN—A Rahway man pleaded guilty today to federal bank robbery charges, admitting he committed 12 bank robberies throughout New Jersey, Acting U.S. Attorney Ralph J. Marra, Jr., announced.

Robert Arndt, 39, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Joseph E. Irenas to a three-count Information that charges him with bank robbery. Judge Irenas continued the defendant’s detention and scheduled sentencing for Oct. 16.

At his plea hearing, Arndt admitted that during each of a dozen bank robberies he approached a teller and handed the teller a note that stated he had a gun and ordered the teller to put their money on the counter.

In pleading guilty to the three counts of bank robbery contained in the Information, Arndt admitted robbing the following banks:

• July 8, 2008, Sovereign Bank in Linden, of approximately $13,700;
• July 28, 2008, Columbia Savings Bank in Colonia, of approximately $9,361;
• August 13, 2008, PNC Bank in Green Brook, of approximately $14,332.

As part of his guilty plea, Arndt also admitted to robbing the following additional banks:

• June 3, 2008, Lakeland Bank in Caldwell, of approximately $4,325;
• June 9, 2008, and again on August 29, 2008, Sovereign Bank in Parlin, of approximately $6,500 and $3,007, respectively;
• June 18, 2008, Sovereign Bank in East Brunswick, of approximately $7,150;
• July 2, 2008, Wachovia Bank in Middlesex, of approximately $2,145;
• August 9, 2008, Provident Bank in Edison, of approximately $3,298;
• August 23, 2008, Unity Bank in Highland Park,$6,100;
• September 3, 2008, Sovereign Bank in Red Bank, of approximately $5,901;
• September 9, 2008, Valley National Bank in Little Ferry, of approximately $6,700.

Arndt was arrested on September 16, 2008, by Special Agents with the FBI and Police Officers with the Woodbridge Police Department and Investigators with Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office during an attempt to rob the Unity Bank in Middlesex.

Each count of bank robbery carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. In addition, Judge Irenas will order Arndt to pay restitution to the victims of his offense.

In determining an actual sentence, Judge Irenas 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.

Marra credited Special Agents of the FBI’s Franklin Township Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Weysan Dun in Newark, and Investigators with the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Bruce J. Kaplan, and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Wayne J. Forrest, along with police officers with the police departments of each of the affected municipalities and the Rahway Police Department, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa M. Colone of the U.S. Attorney’s Violent Crimes Unit.

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