A resident of Brooklyn, New York who was at one time listed on the FBI’s 10 most wanted fugitive list was arrested in April in association with another bank robbery. He had just completed a 25-year sentence in Federal prison roughly two weeks prior to this occurrence for his conviction in a rash of more than two dozen bank robberies in the late 1980’s. His primary court appearance in this new case will be on May 15.
John Edward Stevens, 62, of Brooklyn, New York was arrested on April 16, after he entered a TD Bank located on Ramapo Valley Road in Bergen County, Oakland, New Jersey. He was waving a handgun and allowed all the customers to leave the bank, before removing cash from the tellers’ area from multiple cash drawers. Before going for the money, he first displayed a black handgun to one of the bank managers that was sitting at his desk at the time. After gathering up the loot he left on foot and was spotted by police about 20 minutes later in neighboring Waldwick just after 10:30 a.m. Employees of the bank affirmed that the man matching his description captured by the police was indeed the perpetrator. The Oakland Police Department received the 9-1-1 call at 10:03 a.m.
In a search of his “stolen” car, police found a bag displaying the TD bank’s logo filled with approximately $4,000 in cash. They also found a black handgun that was identified by some of the employees as a match for the weapon he was brandishing in the bank, minutes prior to his apprehension.
The arrest was credited to members of both the Waldwick and Ho-Ho-Kus Police at approximately 10:40 a.m.
He is now charged with one count of bank robbery, which if convicted can produce a new sentence of up to 20 more years behind bars.
Stevens was first arrested for bank robbery charges on November 30, 1988 in Ohio. Cincinnati Police found him in a motel along with his girlfriend. He has previously been featured on the hit TV show America’s Most Wanted and is suspected in excess of 25 more bank robberies spanning at least eight states
It seems he was a tad more effective during his prior robberies, which earned him quite a reputation with federal authorities.
According to media reports, during his previous spree, he was acknowledged for mocking police, often boasting that “he is smarter than anyone in law enforcement.” Before his arrest in 1988, Stevens would actually call up police offices and claim that he would never be caught. He was positioned on the FBI’s “Most Wanted” list in that same year and was arrested in Cincinnati around six months after that notorious assignment.
The FBI also has charges pending against him for various offenses, including previous bank robberies. There are also additional charges imminent from several other jurisdictions which include the 10th precinct in Manhattan. In that particular case, Stevens is wanted for a recent carjacking that occurred on April 14, 2013. It is alleged that the car stolen in the New York City carjacking is the same vehicle that Stevens used, and was caught with in this latest robbery.
He is now scheduled to make his first appearance in U.S. District Court at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, in Newark, Jersey.
The press release on this posting can be read in full on the FBI’s Website by clicking here.
Bank robbery is a Federal crime in all states of the United States. A conviction for bank robbery by the use of force or committing the crime using a weapon can be extremely severe. These punishments include incarceration of up to a lifetime behind bars. Based on these facts, it is crucial that if a person is charged with bank robbery, or in fact any charge on a Federal level, they should contact a steadfast defense attorney with familiarity in Federal law in order to support and have their rights defended properly.
Mr. Cohen is a board certified criminal trial lawyer who has tried a multitude of cases of this type throughout his 35 year career. To read about Mr. Cohen honors and qualifications and what you should do if you or someone close to you arrested, please click here.
Mr. Cohen is also listed in the 2014 edition of “Best Lawyers in America”
To contact Mr. Cohen in the tri-county area of Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties in South Florida, contact him at 954-928-0059 or 561-366-8200.