Kings Park Man Gets Up To 11 Years For Robbing 2 Flagstar Banks: DA

Brian Blackford robbed branches in West Babylon and Deer Park two days apart before detectives arrested him in Copiague, prosecutors said.

By Kepherd Daniel, Patch Staff

Oct 1, 2026 3:30 PM EDT

Brian Blackford, 52, of Kings Park, was sentenced to 5 1/2 to 11 years in prison after pleading guilty to robbing two Flagstar Bank branches in Suffolk County, prosecutors said. (Courtesy Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office)

KINGS PARK, NY — A Kings Park man was sentenced Thursday to 5 1/2 to 11 years in prison for robbing two Flagstar Bank branches in Suffolk County two days apart, prosecutors said.

Brian Blackford, 52, received the sentence after pleading guilty in August to two counts of third-degree robbery and one count of fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, all Class D felonies, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

According to court documents and Blackford's admissions during his guilty plea, the first robbery happened at about 3:43 p.m. on Dec. 8, 2025, at a Flagstar Bank in West Babylon.

Blackford walked up to a teller behind the counter and handed her a note, prosecutors said. The teller gave him $1,400, and Blackford left the bank.

Police were called and launched an investigation.

Two days later, at about 12:45 p.m. on Dec. 10, Blackford entered a Flagstar Bank in Deer Park and handed a note to a teller, according to the DA's office.

Blackford then pointed toward his waist, implying that he had a weapon, prosecutors said. The teller gave him $3,930 in cash before he left.

Suffolk County detectives located Blackford later that day in Copiague and arrested him.

At the time of his arrest, Blackford had 2.35 grams of powder cocaine, $2,700 in stolen cash and a paper note that read, "give me $10,000 cash no funny business," prosecutors said.

Blackford pleaded guilty Aug. 27 to two counts of third-degree robbery and one count of fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

He was sentenced Oct. 1 to 5 1/2 to 11 years in prison. Blackford was represented by attorney Chris Cassar, who was not immediately available for comment.

"Robbing a bank is a serious crime, whether the defendant uses a real firearm or pretends to have one, as Brian Blackford did," Tierney said. "By handing employees a note and making them believe he was armed, this defendant created fear and put innocent people through a terrifying ordeal. Today's sentence holds him accountable for his actions."