2002-11-19 -- Knox, Richard Joseph -- Sentencing -- News Release

Serial Bank Robber Gets 87 Months for Holdups in Somerset and Union Counties

TRENTON - A Bernardsville man was sentenced today to 87 months in federal prison in connection with seven bank robberies throughout Somerset and Union Counties, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

In sentencing Richard Joseph Knox, Jr., 32, to the top range under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, U.S. District Judge Mary L. Cooper found Knox to be a continuing danger to the public, due to the number of bank robberies committed over a short time period for the purpose of supporting his heroin habit use and living expenses. Judge Cooper also noted that Knox initiated a high-speed chase that ultimately led to his arrest, and had a significant juvenile and adult criminal record.

At his plea hearing, Knox pleaded guilty to the first count of a seven-count Information that charged him with the bank robbery of the Millington Savings Bank in Liberty Corner, NJ, on Dec. 3, 2001, taking approximately $40,948. During the plea hearing, Knox admitted that he robbed five additional banks and attempted to rob another. He attempted to rob the First Union Bank in Middlesex, NJ, on January 29, 2002. The other bank robberies were: First Union National Bank in Raritan, on Dec. 14, 2001, taking approximately $48,074; the First Union National Bank in Bound Brook, on Jan. 16, 2002, taking approximately $18,018; the Peapack-Gladstone Bank in Bedminster, on Jan. 29, 2002, taking approximately $46,342; the Hudson City Savings Bank in Summit, on Jan. 29, 2002, taking approximately $13,155; and the Fleet Bank in Springfield, on Jan. 29, 2002, taking approximately $2,985.

Christie credited Special Agents of the FBI, under the direction of Louie F. Allen, Special Agent in Charge; Investigators of the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Wayne J. Forest; Investigators of the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Bruce Kaplan; Investigators of the Union County Prosecutor's Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow, and the Police Departments of Raritan, Watchung, Bedminster Twp., Summit, Bernards Twp., Long Hill Twp., Manville and Bound Brook.

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Defense attorney: Stacy Ann Biancamano, Esq. Federal Public Defenders Office, Newark