A Paterson man has pleaded guilty to robbing two Passaic County banks, including a TD Bank in Paterson and an Investors Bank in Clifton, New Jersey, in 2017, according to court documents.
James M. Chestnut, 62, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge William H. Walls in Newark federal court to two counts of bank robbery, each carrying a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.
According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court, Chestnut entered a TD Bank in Paterson on June 30, 2017, and handed a teller a note stating “Put 100s and 50s in the envelope. No dye pack.”
On July 5, 2017, Chestnut entered an Investors Bank in Clifton and approached a teller, brandishing what appeared to be a firearm. He told the teller to “Open your drawer. Give me your money. All the 100s. Don’t call the cops or I’ll shoot you.”
Chestnut also admitted attempting to rob a Chase Bank in Saddle Brook, New Jersey, on July 3, 2017.
The investigation was led by special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher in Newark, and assisted by the Paterson Police Department, the Saddle Brook Police Department, the Clifton Police Department, and the Passaic Police Department.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 21, 2018.
Related Federal Cases
- James Johnson, Bank Robbery, Columbus OH, 2023 · New Jersey
- James Chisholm, Double Bank Robbery, NY 2024 · Pennsylvania
- Jeffrey L. Kniffin, Armed Bank Robbery, New Jersey 2025 · New Jersey
- Jeffrey L. Kniffin, Armed Bank Robbery, New Jersey 2025 · New Jersey
- Samuel Campbell, Armed Bank Robbery, CA, 2016 · California
Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
