Newark Man Sentenced in Bank Robberies

A 22-year-old city man was sentenced today in Trenton to 45 months in prison for conspiring with an uncle to rob two banks, the US Attorney’s Office said in a statement.

Juan Perez, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson to one count of conspiracy to commit bank robbery, one count of attempted bank robbery, and one count of bank robbery. Wolfson imposed the sentence today in Trenton federal court.

Perez admitted that from June 2010 until August 2010 he conspired with his uncle, Nathaniel Barreto, 29, also of Newark, to attempt to rob a PNC bank in Bloomfield,  on Aug. 9, 2010, and to rob another PNC Bank in Whippany on Aug. 17, 2010. Perez admitted going into the PNC bank to scope it out for customers and surveillance cameras. He also admitted driving the getaway car in both crimes.

Barreto, who brandished what appeared to be a firearm in both banks, entered a guilty plea before Judge Wolfson on Oct.12, 2011. Barreto pleaded guilty in October 2011 to bank robbery and is awaiting sentencing.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Wolfson sentenced Perez to three years of supervised release and ordered to him pay restitution of $4,527.