TRENTON, N.J. – Greed and a loaded handgun. That’s what drove Jeffrey L. Kniffin, 51, of Wall Township, to allegedly rob a local bank, according to federal prosecutors. Kniffin admitted guilt on July 22, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi, pleading to a one-count Information charging him with armed bank robbery. This wasn’t some smash-and-grab; this was a calculated, brazen act of theft committed with a firearm.
The October 23, 2024, robbery unfolded at a bank in Wall Township. Court documents detail how Kniffin entered the bank brandishing a loaded handgun. He approached a teller and immediately demanded cash. The situation quickly escalated when he displayed the weapon, pointing it directly at the teller while repeatedly barking, “Don’t do anything stupid.” It’s a chilling phrase, a clear threat delivered with cold precision.
The teller, understandably terrified, handed over approximately $27,072 in cash. Kniffin then fled the scene, but his freedom was short-lived. Law enforcement, responding swiftly to the alarm, apprehended him just minutes later. A search of Kniffin and the surrounding area yielded the loaded firearm used in the robbery, along with over $25,000 of the stolen money. It’s a sloppy recovery for a supposedly planned crime.
U.S. Attorney Alina Habba’s office is prosecuting the case. Kniffin now faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for November 24, 2025. While a plea has been entered, the judge will ultimately determine Kniffin’s fate, and a lengthy prison term is almost guaranteed given the severity of the crime and the weapon involved.
The investigation was a joint effort, spearheaded by task force officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, led by Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark. Significant assistance was also provided by the Wall Township Police Department, under Chief Sean O’Halloran, and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, under Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago. This wasn’t a solo operation by Kniffin; it required a coordinated response to bring him to justice. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Garelick is handling the prosecution for the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.
Defense counsel John M. Holliday, Esq., has yet to issue a statement. For Kniffin, the game is over. He traded a life of freedom for the cold reality of a federal prison cell. This case serves as a stark reminder that armed robbery will not be tolerated, and those who attempt it will face the full force of the law.
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Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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