Melisa Aquino Arias, Bank Robbery, New Jersey 2018
A 24-year-old Passaic County woman, Melisa Aquino Arias, was sentenced to 37 months in prison for her role in a month-long crime spree that included robbing a Spencer Savings Bank in Garfield, New Jersey, at gunpoint.
Arias, of Passaic, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler to one count of attempted bank robbery, one count of attempted conspiracy to steal from a bank, and one count of bank robbery.
The crime spree began on Aug. 28, 2017, when Arias and her co-defendant, Swahilys Pedraza-Rodriguez, disguised in nuns’ habits, entered a Citizens Bank in Tannersville, Pennsylvania. While inside, Arias acted as a lookout as Pedraza-Rodriguez took out what appeared to be a gun and demanded money from a bank teller.
On Sept. 20, 2017, Arias and Pedraza-Rodriguez agreed to steal money from the drive-through ATM machine at a Keystone Bank in Scotrun, Pennsylvania. Arias drove them, both wearing hijabs, to the ATM machine and again acted as a lookout while Pedraza-Rodriguez attempted to pry open the ATM machine with a screwdriver.
On Sept. 27, 2017, Pedraza-Rodriguez and Arias entered a Spencer Savings Bank in Garfield, New Jersey, and asked a bank teller for information about opening a bank account. Arias, who was wearing a blue hijab, took out what appeared to be a black handgun and demanded money, while Pedraza-Rodriguez stood guard by the bank manager.
Arias was sentenced to 37 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,900 in restitution to Spencer Savings Bank.
U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito credited the FBI, the Garfield Police Department, the Teaneck Police Department, the Leonia police department, and the Pocono Township Police Department with the investigation leading to the guilty pleas.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua L. Haber.
Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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