Crime & Safety
$17K Armed Bank Robbery In Wall Draws Federal Charges For Man
Jeffrey L. Kniffin, 50, of Wall, is facing a federal charge of armed bank robbery in addition to state charges, authorities said.
WALL, NJ — A Wall Township man is facing federal charges after stealing over $17,000 in cash during an armed bank robbery in October, US Attorney Philip Sellinger said.
Jeffrey L. Kniffin, 50, was charged with one count of armed bank robbery in the Oct. 23 incident at Bank of America in Wall Township, authorities said.
According to federal court documents, Kniffin walked into the bank wearing a hooded sweatshirt, gloves, a facemask, a ball cap and sunglasses around 3:30 p.m. He then demanded a bank teller give him cash and pulled out a firearm, authorities said.
Find out what's happening in Wallfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Throughout the incident, Sellinger said Kniffin repeatedly told the teller and other bank employees “Don’t do anything stupid.”
Once the teller gave Kniffin over $17,000 from the bank register, authorities said he left the bank and rode on his bicycle back to his home.
Find out what's happening in Wallfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Immediately after Kniffin left, a bank employee called 911 to report the armed robbery, according to court documents.
As Kniffin was riding home, an off-duty Wall police officer saw him and realized he fit the description of the bank robber. The officer followed Kniffin back to his house and demanded Kniffin get on the ground once he got off his bike.
Kniffin complied and told the officer “I’m so sorry, I got myself in a lot of trouble, I don’t know what else to do,” according to the federal complaint. Kniffin was arrested after police retrieved a loaded firearm from him and over $17,000 in cash, Sellinger said.
The federal charge is in addition to charges filed on Oct. 24 against Kniffin by the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office. Those charges are armed robbery, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and possession of hollow point bullets, according to prosecutors.
Kniffin made his initial court appearance before US Magistrate Judge Rukhsanah Singh in Trenton federal court on Monday where he was detained, Sellinger said.
If he's convicted, the count of armed bank robbery against Kniffin carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Related:
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
