Man Admits Robbing Banks In Ocean City, Atlantic City And Maryland: Authorities

OCEAN CITY, NJ — A Virginia man has admitted to robbing banks in Ocean City, Atlantic City and Baltimore Maryland in December, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced Wednesday evening.

Bruce Wayne Higgins, 43, of Herndon, Virginia, pleaded guilty to a four-count information charging him with the following robberies:

Dec. 10, 2016: Howard Bank in Baltimore;
Dec. 13, 2016: Northwest Bank in Baltimore;
Dec.15, 2016: TD Bank N.A. in Ocean City; and
Dec. 16, 2016: Wells Fargo Bank in Atlantic City.

He was arrested following the final robbery, in Atlantic City on the same day.

Higgins walked into the TD Bank at about 1:06 p.m. on Dec. 15, and demanded money from the teller. He handed him a note that read, “GUN IN Pocket, MONEY NOW or –BANG-.” He then made off with an undisclosed amount of cash. It was unclear if the man was armed, but no one was hurt during the robbery.

The FBI along with Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office and Ocean City Police Department were investigating the robbery, and released surveillance photos of Higgins to the media and the public following the robbery. At that time, his identity was unknown.

After receiving the photos, Atlantic City Police Officers James Bower and Anthony Grajales recognized the suspect from a prior police interaction and notified the Ocean City Police Department.

Law enforcement advised local TD Bank branches to hit their emergency alarm if Higgins Jr. entered their bank.

At about 12:18 p.m. on Dec. 16, Higgins entered the TD Bank at 15 North Pennsylvania Avenue in Atlantic City. Bank personnel hit their emergency alarm initiating a police response. Higgins Jr. left the bank without speaking to anyone. Atlantic City Police officer Brian Fleming responded to the bank, and was told Higgins left the bank in a cab. The witness was able to give the officer the cab number and tell him which direction the cab headed.

However, by the time police found the cab at South Carolina and Atlantic avenues, Higgins was already gone.
While police were attempting to find him, the Wells Fargo Bank in Atlantic City was robbed. Police say Higgins gave the teller a note saying he had a gun, and the teller gave him more than $1,000 in cash.

Police then saw Higgins walking down South Carolina Avenue. Several officers approached him and ordered him to the ground. Higgins initially refused, but after several minutes, was placed in custody, police said. All the money was recovered, but police say no gun was found.

In addition to the New Jersey robberies, Higgins admitted robbing two banks and a business in Baltimore, Maryland, authorities said. During each of the bank robberies, Higgins threatened the bank’s employees and fled.

Higgins faces a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense on each bank robbery. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Higgins has agreed to make full restitution to the banks and to the victim of another robbery in Baltimore for all of the losses resulting from his robbery spree. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 6.

Fitzpatrick credited special agents with the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher in Newark and Special Agent in Charge Gordon Johnson in Baltimore; the Ocean City Police Department, under the direction of Chief Chad Callahan; the Atlantic City Police Department, under the direction of Chief Henry White; the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Robert L. Taylor; the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Damon Tyner; the Baltimore County Police, under the direction of Chief Terrance Gordon; and the Fairfax County Police, under the direction of Chief of Police Col., Edwin C. Roessler Jr., with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.

The attached image was previously provided by Ocean City Police