2002-08-02 -- Bianchetti, Neil -- Sentencing -- News Release

Serial Bank Robber gets 110 months for N.J. Heists; Awaits Sentencing on Six Others in New York

CAMDEN - A serial bank robber who held up six banks in New Jersey and six in New York was sentenced today to 110 months in prison for the New Jersey crimes, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

Neil Bianchetti, 28, formerly of Somerset, was also ordered by U.S. District Judge Jerome B. Simandle to make $13,306 in restitution.

On April 24, Bianchetti pleaded guilty to robbing a Summit Bank branch in Somerset and getting away with $1,542. Under terms of a plea agreement, Bianchetti admitted to five other bank robberies in New Jersey, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney William H. Devaney.

In each of the six bank robberies, Bianchetti admitted that he handed the bank teller a note demanding money. Bianchetti either warned in the notes that he had a gun or showed the tellers what appeared to be a gun, although it is not believed that Bianchetti carried an actual firearm in any of the robberies.

The other five New Jersey robberies were:

• May 8, 2001, a New Brunswick branch of Brunswick Bank and Trust, $2,578.

• May 14, 2001, a New Brunswick branch of New Millennium Bank, $3,151.

• May 31, 2001, an Edison branch of Summit Bank, $2,445.

• June 19, 2001, a New Brunswick branch of Magyar Savings Bank, $1,790.

• July 9, 2001, the same Somerset branch of Summit Bank as he previously robbed on June 8, 2001, $1,800.

In addition to the six bank robberies in New Jersey, Bianchetti pleaded guilty on Feb. 21 in U.S. District Court in Manhattan to six bank robberies in New York City from May 23, 2001, to August 2, 2001. Bianchetti has yet to be sentenced in New York for those offenses.

Bianchetti was apprehended on Aug. 13, 2001, by Special Agents of the FBI's Franklin Township, N.J. office. Christie credits those agents, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Louie F. Allen, for their investigation and apprehension of Bianchetti.

The government was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Devaney.

Bianchetti faced a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count. However, his sentenced was determined under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, a formula that takes into account the circumstances of a crime and other factors, including a defendant's criminal history, if any.

Parole has been abolished in the federal system. Under Sentencing Guidelines, defendants who are given custodial terms must serve nearly all that time.

-end-

Defense Counsel:

K. Anthony Thomas, Esq. Federal Public Defender's Office