Rockland Man Accused Of 4 Daring Bank Robberies In NJ, NY

AIRMONT, NY — A Rockland County resident was arrested Tuesday at his home in Airmont by the FBI. He is accused of committing four bank robberies in the region: one in Rockland, two across the Hudson River in Dutchess County and one across the New Jersey border in Bergen County. Usually he said he had a bomb.

His total haul was $233,000, prosecutors allege.

“In quick succession, Yosef Ziegler allegedly committed a series of daring broad-daylight bank robberies in New York and New Jersey," U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said in an announcement of the arrest. "Ziegler’s alleged conduct not only put bank employees, law enforcement, and the public at risk. Traumatic events such as this can also cause lasting undue emotional distress on victims and bystanders. Yosef Ziegler now stands accused of bank robbery charges which could potentially earn him 25 years in federal prison."

Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said the four bank robberies took place in the first nine months of 2019.

On Jan. 24, at 4:20 p.m., Ziegler entered a bank in Pomona, New York, announced that he had a bomb, displayed a cylindrical device attached to wires, and demanded that employees empty the bank’s vault. He collected approximately $76,000 in United States currency and fled.

On April 17, at noon, he entered a bank in Park Ridge, New Jersey, announced that he had a bomb, and demanded that employees empty the bank’s vault. Ziegler collected approximately $30,150 in United States currency and fled.

On June 25, at 11:50 a.m., Ziegler entered a bank in Wappingers Falls, New York, announced that he had a bomb, with a device in his hand attached to wires that connected to his belt, and demanded that employees empty the vault and teller draws. He collected approximately $22,500 in United States currency and fled.

On Oct. 29, at noon, he entered a bank in Fishkill, New York, wielding what appeared to be a firearm, which he pointed at employees while demanding that they empty the bank’s vault. Ziegler collected approximately $105,000 in United States currency and then fled.

He was presented in White Plains federal court Tuesday afternoon before United States Magistrate Judith C. McCarthy. He faces a maximum term of 25 years in prison for each of the three counts of bank robbery. The statutory maximum sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for information purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the respective judge.

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