09-08-05 -- Bond, Scott et al. -- Sentencing -- News Release

Penns Grove Couple Sentenced to Federal Prison For Committing 10 Bank Robberies

CAMDEN - A Penns Grove couple were sentenced to federal prison terms today for committing 10 bank robberies throughout Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Salem Counties, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

U.S. District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez sentenced Scott Bond, 24, to a prison term of 69 months. Bond's girlfriend, Jennifer Higgins, 24, was sentenced to 45 months in federal prison. Judge Rodriguez also ordered both defendants to pay $39,549 in restitution to the victim banks and to serve three years of supervised release upon the completion of their prison terms.

On May 16, Bond and Higgins both pleaded guilty to separate one-count Informations that charge them with robbing a Haddon Savings Bank in Cherry Hill of $7,760 on March 3, 2005. At their plea hearings, both defendants admitted that beginning on Oct. 22, 2004, and continuing through March 3, 2005, they robbed 10 banks throughout Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Salem Counties. Both defendants admitted that Bond entered each bank with the intention of robbing it and left each one with varying amounts of cash. Both defendants admitted that Higgins drove the get-away vehicle in which they fled from each bank robbery.

Each defendant admitted robbing the following banks:

• Oct. 22, 2004 - Pennsville National Bank, Pedricktown, of $3,600;

• Nov. 8, 2004 - Commerce Bank, West Deptford, of $2,540;

• Dec. 1, 2004 - PNC Bank, Delran, of $6,238;

• Dec. 15, 2004 - Sun National Bank, Turnersville, of $2,895;

• Jan. 5, 2005 - Farmers and Mechanics Bank, Mt. Laurel, of $9,305;

• January 26, 2005 - Hudson City Savings Bank, Woodbury Heights, of $2,961;

• February 4, 2005 - Bank of America, Pennsauken, of $4,100;

• February 18, 2005 - PNC Bank, Delran, of $4,465;

• February 25, 2005 - Wachovia Bank, Burlington, of $3,355;

• March 3, 2005 - Haddon Savings Bank, Cherry Hill, of $7760.

In determining the actual sentence, Judge Rodriguez consulted the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges that take into account the severity and characteristics of the offense, the defendants' criminal histories, 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Leslie Wiser, Jr.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Stephen Stigall of the U.S. Attorney's Office Criminal Division in Camden.

- end -

Defense Attorneys:

Bond - Christopher H. O'Malley, Esq. Asst. Federal Public Defender

Higgins - Frederick W. Klepp, Esq. Cherry Hill