Essex County Man Robbed Same Bank Twice, Authorities Charge

Newark, NJ – An Essex County man charged with robbing Capital One Bank in Newark twice is slated to make his initial court appearance on Tuesday, authorities announced.

According to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Gregory A. Jones, 59, of Newark, is charged with two counts of bank robbery and one count of using a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence.

According to court documents and statements, on May 6, 2014, Jones allegedly entered the Capital One Bank wearing dark glasses and a scarf and presented the teller a note demanding cash. After Jones allegedly left the bank with the stolen money - including a dye pack - law enforcement officers recovered a pair of dark glasses and a scarf near the bank next to currency, saturated with ink from the dye pack.

DNA recovered from the glasses and the scarf reportedly matched a DNA sample that previously was lawfully obtained from Jones, authorities stated.

Jones was later identified based on surveillance video and witness statements, according to prosecutors.

Authorities allege that on Sept. 19, 2014, Jones entered the bank again, brandished a firearm from underneath his sweater, and told a teller to give him money before firing into the ceiling.

Investigators later identified Jones using surveillance video and witness statements, authorities stated.

Jones has been detained in the Essex County Jail on state charges related to the May 6, 2014 robbery.

According to prosecutors, the robbery counts each carry a maximum potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gain or loss. The discharging a firearm during the bank robbery count carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison, which must be served consecutive to the other counts.