10 Years for Man Who Robbed Same Newark Bank Twice

A city man who admitted he robbed the same Ironbound bank two times in less than a month was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in prison, U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman announced. 

On Sept. 17, 2012, Alfred Ferguson, 55, entered the Garden State Community Bank on Wilson Avenue wearing a bandana, climbed over the teller partition and emptied the drawers of cash. He also threatened bank personnel, officials said.

A little more than three weeks later, on Oct. 9, Ferguson hit the bank again, following much the same procedure as in his original robbery. This time, however, Newark police captured Ferguson on Chambers Street as he was fleeing on his bicycle, with cash from the robbery stuffed in his backpack.

Ferguson must also pay $34,136 in restitution, the court also ruled.