North Jersey Man Charged With 14 Bank Robberies: FBI

A New Jersey man has been charged in connection with 14 bank robberies in five states, the FBI announced Monday.

The charges were filed in U.S. District Court in Harrisburg, Penn.

Francis Simmons, 41, of Warren is alleged to have robbed 14 banks and two businesses in Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, New Jersey and North Carolina, the FBI said.

The robberies occurred in Lewisburg, Fogelsville, Dillsburg, Allentown, Wyomissing, Tannersville, Lancaster, Columbia, Hellertown and Hanover, Penn., Marathon, N.Y., Swedesboro, N.J, Hagerstown, Md. and Asheboro, N.C.

The wave of robberies occurred between November 6, 2013 and November 29, 2014, according to United States Attorney Peter Smith,

Simmons was allegedly identified by witnesses and surveillance video.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daryl F. Bloom. If convicted, Simmons faces 20 years in jail and a $250,000 fine.

“The investigation involved close coordination and cooperation of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Cortland County, New York Sheriff Department, and the Police Departments of Upper Macungie Township, Carroll Township, Logan Township, New Jersey, Spring Township, Hagerstown, Maryland, Pocono Township, Lancaster City Bureau of Police, Asheboro, North Carolina, Columbia Borough, Hellertown and Hanover Borough,” the FBI said in a statement