11-10-05 -- Fluellen, David -- Guilty Plea -- News Release

Burlington County Man Admits Two Bank Robberies

CAMDEN - A Beverly man pleaded guilty today to committing two Burlington County bank robberies and using a firearm in one of them, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

David Fluellen, 21, entered his plea before U.S. District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez, who scheduled sentencing for March 7, 2006.

Fluellen pleaded guilty to a three-count Indictment that was returned by a grand jury on Oct. 19, 2005. Counts One and Two charge Fluellen with bank robbery and Count Three charges him with use of a firearm in relation to the crime of violence charged in Count Two.

At his plea hearing, Fluellen admitted he robbed a Fleet National Bank branch in Burlington Township of $32,613 on June 30, 2004, as charged in Count One. Fluellen also admitted he, along with Glenn McRae, 21, of Willingboro, and Tysharne Burke, 21, of Jersey City, entered a Roma Bank branch in Florence on Sept. 1, 2004, and robbed it at gunpoint of $145,336.

On Feb. 22, 2005, McRae pleaded guilty to a two-count Information charging him with two bank robberies. Count One charged him with the Fleet National Bank robbery. Count Two charged McRae with robbing the Roma Bank with Fluellen and Burke.

On Aug. 2, 2004, Burke pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery. At his plea hearing, Burke admitted that he and two accomplices entered the Roma Bank and robbed it. Burke admitted that one of his accomplices brandished a firearm and another physically restrained a bank customer to facilitate the bank robbery and their escape.

Judge Rodriguez continued Fluellen's detention pending sentencing. Fluellen has remained in federal detention since his arrest on Sept. 21, 2004, on unrelated charges.

Each bank robbery count carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the actual loss the victim, which ever is greater. The count of using, carrying or brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence carries a maximum prison sentence of life and a fine of up to $250,000.

Burke's sentencing hearing is scheduled for Nov. 16, 2005, at 10 a.m. McRae is schedule to be sentenced on Feb. 28, 2006, at 10 a.m.

In determining an actual sentence, Judge Rodriguez will consult the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges that take into account the severity and characteristics of the offense, the defendant's criminal history, if any, and other factors. The judge, however, is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence.

Parole has been abolished in the federal system. Defendants who are given custodial terms must serve nearly all that time.

Christie credited Special Agents of the FBI's Trenton Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Leslie Wiser, Jr., in Newark, for their work in the investigation.

The Government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven D'Aguanno of the U.S. Attorney's Office Criminal Division in Camden.

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Defense Attorney: Thomas Belfatto, Esq. Moorestown