09-25-2003 -- Fuller, Phillip Dwayne -- Initial Appearance -- News Release

Philadelphia Man Accused of Robbing Four New Jersey Banks

CAMDEN - A Philadelphia man today had an initial appearance in federal court on a Criminal Complaint charging him with four bank robberies in New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

The Complaint alleges that Phillip Dwayne Fuller, 38, committed four bank robberies between Aug. 27 and Sept. 3. According to the Complaint, in all four bank robberies the defendant presented notes announcing his intention to bank tellers. The first robbery occurred on Aug. 27, 2003, at approximately 1:42 p.m., at a Fleet Bank branch located on Route 50 in Mays Landing. The Complaint alleges that Fuller entered the bank and presented a teller with a note stating "I'm in a hurry. Give me your money." According to the Complaint, at this time he reached over the counter and snatched $2,135 from the teller's drawer, retrieved his note and fled the bank.

The second alleged bank robbery was of a Commerce Bank branch located on Route 9 North in Cape May Courthouse, on Aug. 31, 2003, at 11:16 a.m. According to the Complaint, Fuller entered the bank and handed a teller a note that stated "This is A Robbery give me all the money nobody hurt." The complaint states that Fuller then fled the bank with $6,492 and left the note behind.

A third bank robbery occurred on Sept. 3, 2003, at 4:15 p.m. at Commerce Bank branch located on West Main St. in Freehold Township. The complaint alleges that Fuller entered the bank and handed a teller a note that said "This is A Robbery give me all the money!! BIG BILLS $20, $50, $100's!!" The complaint says that Fuller took $5,780 and fled the bank, again leaving the note behind.

Allegedly, Fuller robbed a fourth bank on September 7, 2003, at 11:56 a.m. According to the Complaint, Fuller entered the Commerce Bank branch on State Highway 31 in Raritan Township, and presented a teller with a note which stated, in substance and in part, "This is a robbery. Big bills. Hurry." Fuller fled the bank with $14,000 and left the note behind.

According to law enforcement officials, Fuller has been charge locally with the following nine additional bank robberies:

• Aug. 18 - First Republic Bank, Abington, PA
• Aug. 19 - Fidelity Deposit and Discount Bank, Kingston, PA
• Aug. 21 - People's Bank, Danbury, CT
• Aug. 29 - Fleet Bank, Stratford, CT
• Sept. 2 - Goshen Savings Bank, Bloomingburg, NY
• Sept. 11 - First Federal Savings Bank, Monroe, NY
• Sept. - 13 Commerce Bank, Ramsey, NJ
• Sept. - 16 Commerce Bank, Patchoque, Long Island, NY
• Sept. - 21 Commerce Bank, Barnegat, NJ

An investigation led by the FBI's Atlantic City Resident Agency, along with the FBI's Newark, Philadelphia, New York and New Haven offices, the U.S. Marshal's Office and numerous local police departments, resulted in the issuance of a criminal complaint on Sept. 11. Fuller was arrested yesterday morning at a hotel in Manhattan by Special Agents of the FBI's New York Office and Officers of the New York Police Department.

The Complaint is available by contacting the U.S. Attorney's Office Public Affairs Office at either 856-757-5233 or 973-645-2888.

The charges in criminal complaints are merely accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until convicted of a crime.

The Government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Diana V. Carrig of the Criminal Division in Camden.

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Defense Attorney: Lisa Evans, Esq. AFPD, Camden