Man Admits Robbing Bergen County Bank: US Attorney

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A man admitted robbing four banks in last year, including a TD Bank in Bergen County, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced Tuesday.

Israel Cosme, 36, of Elizabeth pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court to information charging him with four counts of bank robbery.

Cosme was originally arrested Jan. 24, 2017 in connection with two of the bank robberies committed in Maryland.

On Jan. 15, 2017, Cosme admitted he robbed a TD Bank in Little Ferry where he approached one of the bank tellers and verbally demanded money, according to documents filed in this case and statements made in court.

He then told the bank teller that he was carrying a weapon in his pocket and that he would shoot her if she did not comply with his demands. He then reached over the counter, grabbed the teller by the shirt, and forcibly grabbed money out of her hand, according to the report.

Cosme also admitted robbing a TD Bank in New York on Jan. 12, 2017; a TD Bank in Essex, Maryland, on Jan. 22, 2017; and a TD Bank in Baltimore, Maryland, on Jan. 23, 2017. During all three of these robberies, Cosme handed tellers a note demanding money and stating that he had a gun, Carpenito said.

Cosme could face a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each bank robbery charge.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 7.

• See Related: Union County Man Arrested For Bank Robbery

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