NJ man sentenced for serial bank robberies, gets a decade in prison

A New Jersey man was sentenced to a decade in federal prison today for committing a dozen bank robberies throughout New Jersey.  

U.S. District Judge Joseph E. Irenas also ordered Robert Arndt, 39, of Rahway, to pay approximately $82,000 in restitution and to serve three years of supervised release upon the completion of his prison term.

Arndt pleaded guilty to three counts of bank robbery. At his plea hearing, Arndt admitted that during each of a dozen bank robberies he approached a teller and handed the teller a note that stated he had a gun and ordered the teller to put their money on the counter.

Arndt admitted robbing the following banks:

July 8, 2008, Sovereign Bank in Linden, of approximately $13,700;
July 28, 2008, Columbia Savings Bank in Colonia, of approximately $9,361;
August 13, 2008, PNC Bank in Green Brook, of approximately $14,332.
June 3, 2008, Lakeland Bank in Caldwell, of approximately $4,325;
June 9, 2008, and again on August 29, 2008, Sovereign Bank in Parlin, of approximately $6,500 and $3,007, respectively;
June 18, 2008, Sovereign Bank in East Brunswick, of approximately $7,150;
July 2, 2008, Wachovia Bank in Middlesex, of approximately $2,145;
August 9, 2008, Provident Bank in Edison, of approximately $3,298;
August 23, 2008, Unity Bank in Highland Park, of approximately $6,100;
September 3, 2008, Sovereign Bank in Red Bank, of approximately $5,901;
September 9, 2008, Valley National Bank in Little Ferry, of approximately $6,700.

Arndt was arrested on Sept. 16, 2008, by Special Agents with the FBI and Police Officers with the Woodbridge Police Department and Investigators with Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office during an attempt to rob the Unity Bank in Middlesex.