Camden’s Anthony L. Livingston Convicted in 3-Bank Heist Spree

Anthony L. Livingston, 48, of Camden, is back behind bars — convicted of a brazen 10-day bank crime spree in July 2018 that saw him rob two banks and attempt a third, just one day after finishing a 220-month sentence for robbing eight banks years earlier. The repeat offender was found guilty on all counts following a one-week trial in Camden federal court, with the jury taking less than three hours to return guilty verdicts on two counts of bank robbery and one count of attempted bank robbery.

The crime spree began July 14, 2018, when Livingston walked into the Gloucester Township PNC Bank wearing sunglasses and a hat, handed a demand note to a teller, and walked out with stolen cash. Calm and calculated, he didn’t stop there. A day after completing a massive prison term for past bank heists, Livingston plunged straight back into criminal chaos, showing no hesitation in targeting financial institutions across southern New Jersey.

On July 24, 2018, Livingston tried a new tactic — coercion. He approached a homeless man and instructed him to rob the Stratford PNC Bank, handing over a demand note and driving him to the scene. But the plan collapsed when the man entered the bank, told employees he’d been sent to commit the robbery, refused to go through with it, and urged staff to call police — implicating Livingston, who was waiting outside.

Undeterred, Livingston recruited co-defendant Laque Hunter just four hours later to hit the Collingswood Ocean First Bank. He drove Hunter to the scene, served as getaway driver after Hunter used a demand note to steal cash, and later split the proceeds. Hunter pleaded guilty April 2, 2019, and awaits sentencing, while Livingston faces the full weight of federal justice.

At the time of the crimes, Livingston was on federal supervised release — a technical freedom earned after serving time for robbing eight banks in 2000 and 2001. His immediate relapse into identical crimes has stunned prosecutors and law enforcement alike. Each of the three counts carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss. Sentencing is set for September 5, 2019.

The investigation was a multi-agency operation led by the FBI-Cherry Hill, under Special Agent in Charge Michael Harpster, with critical support from the Camden County Police Department, Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, Camden County Sheriff’s Office, and local departments in Collingswood, Gloucester Township, and Stratford. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristen M. Harberg and Patrick C. Askin. Livingston was represented by John B. Brennan, Esq., of Marlton, New Jersey.