Oradell Man Admits Robbing Banks, Liquor Store And Gas Station

ORADELL, NJ — A borough man faces spending the rest of his life in prison after admitting Wednesday to robbing four North Jersey banks, a gas station, and a liquor store last year, authorities announced.

Joel Robbins, 47, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden in Newark federal court to four counts of bank robbery and two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced. (See related: Oradell Man Charged With Robbing Mahwah TD Bank Sunday)

Robbins admitting robbing a Chase Bank branch in Edgewater and a TD Bank branch in Mahwah, along with banks in Whippany and Parsippany. He also robbed a liquor store in Hopatcong and a gas station in Pinebrook.

Robbins walked into the TD Bank with a bandana over his face, pulled a fake handgun from his waistband, and demanded money from two tellers, warning them "not to make me have to kill you," Carpenito announced.

Wanda Soel, 52, of Hasbrouck Heights, allegedly waited for Robbins in a Toyota Corrolla parked outside the bank.

Nearby police officers, who had received a report of the bank robbery while it was in progress, pursued the Corolla. Soel allegedly drove into the parking lot of a nearby hotel, where she and Robbins tried to switch places so Robbins could drive. When Soel got out of the Corolla, she tripped and fell, and Robbins drove away without her, Carpenito said. Law enforcement officers arrested Soel in the hotel parking lot. Her bank robbery charges are pending.

Robbins drove out of the hotel parking lot but eventually hit a curb, blew a tire, and crashed. Law enforcement officers caught up to the Corolla and arrested Robbins.

The counts of bank robbery and Hobbs Act robbery with which Robbins is charged each carry a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Email daniel.hubbard@patch.com

Lead image: A still photo from video surveillance footage taken of the TD Bank robbery in Mahwah.

Second image: Wanda Soel, 52, of Hasbrouck Heights/Images courtesy of Mahwah Police Department