10-21-05 -- Greene, Charles E. -- Indictment -- News Release

Newark Man Indicted for Robbing and Attempting to Rob Eight Banks in Essex and Union Counties

NEWARK - A Newark man was indicted today for robbing and attempting to rob eight banks in Essex and Union counties, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

Charles E. Greene, 45, was charged in an eight-count Indictment with robberies and attempted robberies in which he took more than $16,000 from the banks, according to the Indictment.

Green was arrested at an Irvington motel on May 27, 2004, the day after his last robbery at a Valley National bank branch in Nutley, where he presented a note announcing a robbery and demanding cash in $50 and $100 denominations, according to a criminal complaint. Greene's photo, taken by a bank surveillance system, was distributed to certain media outlets, and he was located at the motel and arrested by the FBI, according to the complaint.

Greene remains in custody pending trial, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam S. Lurie.

Greene faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each of the eight charges in the Indictment.

The Indictment charges Green with the following:

• robbing Valley National Bank in Belleville of approximately $1,901 on May 6, 2004;

• robbing Valley National Bank in Union Township of approximately $2,050 on May 10, 2004;

• attempting to rob Provident Savings Bank in Bloomfield on May 12, 2004;

• robbing Valley National Bank in Newark of approximately $3,000 on May 12, 2004;

• robbing Fleet Bank in Irvington of approximately $4,758 on May 15, 2004;

• robbing Fleet Bank in Union Township of approximately $1,350 on May 20, 2004;

• robbing Fleet Bank in Rahway of approximately $1,400 on May 22, 2004; and

• robbing Valley National Bank in Nutley of approximately $1,750 on May 26, 2004.

Despite Indictment, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and federal law.

In determining an actual sentence, the judge to whom the case is assigned would, upon a conviction, consult the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges that take into account the severity and characteristics of the offense, the defendant's criminal history, if any, and other factors. The judge, however, is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence.

Parole has been abolished in the federal system. Defendants who are given custodial terms must serve nearly all that time.

Christie credited Special Agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Leslie G. Wiser, Jr., with developing the case against Greene.

The Government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lurie of the U.S. Criminal Division in Newark.

-end-

Defense Counsel:

Lisa Mack, Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Newark