Washington, N.J., Man Confesses to Scotch Plains Bank Robbery, Four Others

A 42-day federal manhunt for a bank robber that spanned three counties and seven law enforcement agencies, including the Scotch Plains Police Department, came to a close March 12, the FBI's Newark field office announced in a press release Monday. Joseph P. Pennello, 46, of Washington, N.J., who turned himself in to local police, confessed to robbing five banks in Union, Warren and Bergen counties, including the in Scotch Plains. 

Pennello faces five counts of bank robbery, which together carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, the FBI stated. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patty Shwartz in Newark federal court on March 15, who ordered him detained without bail following the proceeding. He is being held at the Essex County Jail, said his attorney, federal public defender John Yauch.

Pennello's first robbery occurred Jan. 29 at the PNC Bank in Washington, according to the FBI complaint filed in United States District Court. There, wearing a hat and sunglasses, he demanded money from a teller while gesturing toward what appeared to be a concealed firearm. He made off with $2,279 and, over the next six weeks, robbed banks in Scotch Plains, Hackensack, Hackettstown and Rutherford. 

He did not again show a weapon at any of the other four robberies, the FBI stated, but his disguise and method of operation otherwise remained the same. During the Feb. 6 robbery of TD Bank in Scotch Plains, Pennello passed a note demanding all the money in the teller's drawer. Five days later, he passed a note to a teller at the PNC Bank in Hackensack, which read, "This is a robbery. No alarms. No dye-packs. No tracers. No one gets hurts [sic]."  

All told, Pennello's robberies netted $18,054. An FBI search of Pennello's home and vehicles following his arrest uncovered a toy gun, as well as the hat and sunglasses. 

The FBI did not state why Pennello chose to surrender. Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward, however, credited the Warren County Prosecutor's Office, the Bergen County Sheriff's Office and the Scotch Plains, Washington, Hackettstown, Hasbrouck Heights, Hackensack and Rutherford police departments "for the work leading to the identification and apprehension" of Pennello.

Anyone with information regarding these or other bank robberies is urged to call the FBI's Newark office at 973-792-3000.