Barnegat Man Gets 10 Years In Prison For 8 Bank Robberies

TRENTON, N.J. – A Barnegat Township man will spend the next 10 years in state prison for robbing eight banks in New Jersey and New York, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman said.

Steven M. Wisnowski, 33, of Barnegat, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Peter J. Sheridan in Trenton federal court to an eight-count superseding information charging him with the bank robberies. Sheridan handed down the sentence Friday, Fishman said.

Wisnowski admitted that he robbed eight banks — seven in New Jersey, one in New York — between Oct. 30, 2013, and Jan. 7, 2014, Fishman said.

They included:

• PNC Bank in Edison on Oct. 30 2013
• TD Bank, Brick Township, Nov. 7, 2013
• Santander Bank, Brick Township, Nov. 15, 2013
• Ridgewood Savings Bank, Bayside, New York, Nov. 22, 2013
• Columbia Bank, Edison, Nov 27, 2013
• TD Bank, Toms River, Dec. 2, 2013
• PNC Bank, Aberdeen, Dec. 9, 2013
• Fulton Bank, Edison, Jan. 7 , 2014

Wisnowski entered each bank wearing a hat, hooded jacket, and a wig to conceal his identity, approached the tellers, and demanded money. In some instances, Wisnowski made the tellers believe he was armed and also threatened some tellers with violence.

During the Columbia Bank robbery, Wisnowski appeared to point something at the teller from under his clothing, as if he had a gun. Wisnowski then demanded money, stating: “Give me all your hundreds.” As the teller gathered the money, Wisnowski counted backwards from 10. He then fled with the money, Fishman said.

During the Fulton Bank robbery, Wisnowski gave a teller a manila envelope and stated, “Give me what I want and nobody gets hurt. I want large bills.” He then pulled up his sweatshirt as if he had a gun. The teller gathered the money and placed it in the envelope, after which Wisnowski fled.

Law enforcement tracked Wisnowski’s vehicle to the scene of the Fulton Bank robbery. Officers approached Wisnowski as he exited the bank and ordered him to the ground at gunpoint. Wisnowski threw the envelope filled with cash and fled. Law enforcement officers pursued Wisnowski and apprehended him moments later.

In addition to the prison term, Wisnowski was also sentenced to to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution of $22,240.

U.S. Attorney Fishman praised special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. He also thanked the Edison, Aberdeen, Brick, Toms River, and New York City police departments, and the Middlesex, Ocean, and Monmouth County prosecutors’ offices for their contributions to the case.

Image: Patch file photo