“Tri-County Bank Robber” Suspect Faces Federal Judge

The Barnegat man suspected of seven bank holdups over three months in Ocean, Monmouth and Middlesex Counties enters his first federal court appearance in Newark today.

Steven Wisnowski, 30, is charged in a superseding complaint with holdups at:

• PNC Bank, Edison, October 30, 2013
• TD Bank, Brick, November 7, 2013
• Santander Bank, Brick, November 15, 2013
• Columbia Bank, Edison, November 27, 2013
• TD Bank, Toms River, December 2, 2013
• PNC Bank, Aberdeen, December 9, 2013
• Fulton Bank, Edison, January 7, 2014

Each of the seven counts carries a possible prison term of up to 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000.

According to details from the office of New Jersey U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman, Wisnowski is accused of donning hats, hooded jackets and wigs each time he approached tellers to demand cash.

During the Columbia robbery, Wisnowski appeared to point an object hidden under his clothes at the teller while saying, "Give me all your hundreds," authorities said. He allegedly counted backwards from 10 while the teller gathered and handed over the bills.

Investigators tracked Wisnowski's vehicle to the site of the Fulton robbery, authorities said. He allegedly handed a manila envelope to the teller, saying "Give me what I want and nobody gets hurt. I want large bills," after which he pulled up his sweatshirt as if armed, authorities said.

Law enforcers intercepted Wisnowski outside the bank and had ordered him to the ground at gunpoint when he flung the cash-filled envelope and bolted before being captured shortly afterward, authorities said.