Essex County Man Admits to Robbing Bloomfield Bank

By eric.kiefer (Patch Staff)

An Essex County man admitted robbing the PNC Bank in Bloomfield in June of 2014, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced on Monday.

According to a release, Kenneth Grant, 47, of East Orange, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court to an indictment charging him with one count of Bank Robbery.

According to court statements and documents, Grant entered the PNC Bank and wrote “I HAVE GUN 100, 20, 50 NO DIE PACKS” on the back of a deposit slip. Grant then handed the note to a bank teller, demanded money and told her not to trigger an alarm or he would shoot.

The teller gave Grant money, and he fled the bank.

According to a report, Grant was apprehended when an off-duty corrections officer – who was a customer at the bank – stopped Grant and detained him until police arrived.

The report stated that Grant was not carrying a weapon at the time, and the off-duty officer was not wearing a uniform, but was carrying a badge and his service weapon at the time of the incident. The off-duty officer reportedly detained Grant by identifying himself as a police officer, and ordering him to get on the ground.

The Bank Robbery charge carries a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gain to the defendant or loss to any victims. Sentencing is scheduled for June 15.

Fishman credited special agents of the FBI under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Richard M. Frankel in Newark, and officers of the Bloomfield Police Department under the direction of Chief Randy Foster, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.