Union County, New Jersey, Man Admits Robbing Four Banks

NEWARK, N.J. – An Elizabeth, New Jersey, man today admitted robbing four banks in January 2017, including a TD Bank in Bergen County, New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today.  
                        
Israel Cosme, 36, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court to an information charging him with four counts of bank robbery. Cosme was originally arrested Jan. 24, 2017 in connection with two of the bank robberies committed in Maryland.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Cosme admitted that on Jan. 15, 2017, he robbed a TD Bank in Little Ferry, New Jersey. During the robbery, Cosme verbally demanded money and told a teller that he would shoot her if she didn’t comply.

Cosme also admitted robbing a TD Bank in New York on Jan. 12, 2017; a TD Bank in Essex, Maryland, on Jan. 22, 2017; and a TD Bank in Baltimore, Maryland, on Jan. 23, 2017. During all three of these robberies, Cosme handed tellers a note demanding money and stating that he had a gun.
    
Each bank robbery charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for May 7, 2018.
            
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher in Newark, with the investigation. He also thanked the Little Ferry Police Department, under the direction of Chief Ralph Verdi, for its assistance.
    
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason S. Gould of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
    
Defense counsel: K. Anthony Thomas Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Newark