NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—Peter Greer, a 38-year-old city man, has been arrested in connection with five bank robberies, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced on March 13.

Greer is charged with five counts of bank robbery and made his first court appearance later that day before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer in Newark federal court.

Greer robbed three banks in Essex County, one bank in Passaic County, and attempted to rob another bank in Essex County, all within a five-month period beginning last September, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Greer allegedly used a similar process for all his robberies: after entering the bank and approaching the teller window, he would slip the teller a note demanding money, claiming he was armed.

Greer is being charged for robbery or attempted robbery for the following banks:

  • September 27, 2012 Valley National Bank, Newark
  • October 31, 2012 attempted robbery of Sovereign Bank, Newark
  • November 6, 2012 Valley National Bank, Belleville
  • December 8, 2012 Valley National Bank, Passaic
  • February 23, 2013 Valley National Bank, Belleville.  

If convicted of the charges, Greer faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of either $250,000, or “twice the gross gain or loss from the offense for each count with which he is charged.”

An FBI spokesperson, Mary Ann Flippo, said that surveillance footage of the robber matched Greer’s driver’s license photo when he was taken into custody on an unrelated charge. Greer then admitted to FBI agents that he was the person involved in the bank robberies.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the command of Acting Special Agent in charge David Velazquez, for leading the investigations and thanked the New Jersey State Parole Board, the Newark Police Department, the Passaic Police Department, and the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department for their contributions to the case.

In court, the government will be represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle M. Corcione of the U.S. Attorney’s Office General Crimes Unit in Newark.