Man Who Fled Newark Bank Robbery in a Taxi Pleads Guilty

U.S. Attorney’s Office
30 September 2014

NEWARK, NJ—An Essex County man who left the scene of the crime by hailing a cab admitted today to robbing the New York Community Bank in Newark, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Willie Chestnut Jr., 61, of Newark, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden to an information charging him with one count of bank robbery.

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

Chestnut robbed the New York Community Bank in Newark on Oct. 11, 2013, by intimidating the teller and another bank employee who attempted to intercede. He approached the teller and told her he needed to make a withdrawal. After the teller handed him a withdrawal slip, Chestnut demanded bills from the top teller drawer.

Chestnut was arrested by officers of the Newark Police Department shortly after the robbery fleeing the scene in a taxi cab, wearing the same clothes he wore during the robbery, with the stolen money and the withdrawal slip in his pocket.

The bank robbery count carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gain or loss from the offense. Sentencing is currently scheduled for Jan. 5, 2015.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford, with the investigation. He also thanked the Newark Police Department for its contribution.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cari Fais of the U.S. Attorney’s Office General Crimes Unit in Newark.