Union County Man Admits To 'Violent Crime' Spree

PLAINFIELD, NJ — A Union County man admitted Monday to robbing seven banks – and attempting to rob an eighth bank with a gun – one carjacking and trying to jack three more cars, and taking a hostage at gunpoint while fleeing, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Marlon Peek, 41, of Plainfield pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden in Newark federal court to seven counts of bank robbery, one count of carjacking, one count of attempted bank robbery with a dangerous weapon, one count of use and brandishing of a firearm during a crime of violence, three counts of attempted carjacking, and one count of forced accompaniment in attempting to avoid apprehension for the attempted armed bank robbery.

“This defendant cut a swath of violent crime through central New Jersey for two months, brandishing guns to terrify innocent victims as he robbed banks and carjacked vehicles,” Carpenito said. “The excellent work of local and federal law enforcement officers have taken a violent criminal with no regard for the lives and safety of others off the streets.”

Peek robbed or attempted to rob the following banks:

At each bank, Peek showed a note demanding cash from bank tellers, including, on at least six occasions, claiming he had a gun and would shoot, according to documents filed in this case and statements made in court.

During the robbery of the TD Bank in Edison on March 17, 2015, Peek handed a teller a note that read, “I have gun will shoot to kill you have 3 seconds,” according to the report.

While trying to rob Bank of America on May 6, 2015, Peek pointed a loaded firearm directly at a bank teller. He also admitted that when he was trying to escape, he entered a warehouse, took a hostage, held a loaded gun to the hostage’s head, and forced the hostage to go with him, according to the report.

Police arrived on scene and ordered Peek to drop his gun. Peek then surrendered his weapon and was arrested.

Peek also admitted that he committed a carjacking in Plainfield on April 21, 2015, between robbing the PNC Bank and the TD Bank on the same day, and that he also tried to jack three more cars using a loaded firearm directly after trying to rob the Bank of America in Linden on May 6, 2015.

The seven bank robbery charges to which Peek pleaded guilty each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.

The four carjacking or attempted carjacking charges to which Peek pleaded guilty each carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.

The charge of armed attempted bank robbery to which Peek pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.

The charge of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, while brandishing the firearm, carries a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison and a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. The sentence imposed for this charge must be consecutive to the sentence for any other count. This charge also carries a maximum fine of $250,000.

The charge of forced accompaniment in attempting to avoid apprehension for the attempted robbery of the Bank of America carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 11. Peek’s co-defendant, Nathaniel Brown, pleaded guilty to bank robbery of the Wells Fargo bank in South Plainfield and is scheduled to be sentenced May 30.

(Image via Shutterstock)

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here.