Serial Robber Admits Holding Up Fort Lee Bank Branch

FORT LEE, NJ — A New York man Wednesday admitted robbing a borough TD Bank branch in February, authorities announced.

Eddy Cruz, 42, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Peter Sheridan in Trenton federal court to three counts of bank robbery and one count of attempted bank robbery, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Cruz admitted robbing TD Bank branches in Hasboruck Heights and Fort Lee on Feb. 18 and Feb. 13 last year, respectively, Carpenito said.

During those robberies, Cruz wore a mask to disguise his identity and handed tellers notes demanding cash.

Law enforcement officials tracked Cruz's car, which was spotted at one of the robberies, to Manhattan on Feb. 24, 2017, Carpenito said.

Cruz dove to another TD Bank branch that day in Englewood, where he was taken into custody moments before he robbed that bank in a similar disguise he wore during the previous two robberies, Carpenito said.

Cruz also admitted robbing a PNC Bank branch in Jackson Township on Dec. 24, 2013.

Each bank robbery charge carries with it a maximum 20-year prison sentence and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.

Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 27.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

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