Prosecutors say he robbed seven banks in N.J. and one bank in Queens before being arrested near the scene of his last robbery in January 2014.
TRENTON -- An Ocean County man was sentenced Friday to 10 years in federal prison after admitting to robbing eight banks in New Jersey and New York in less than three months.
Steven Wisnowski. (Law enforcement handout photo) Steven Wisnowski, 33, previously pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to eight counts of bank robbery under a superseding indictment filed by prosecutors, according to the office of U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman.
U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan in Trenton on Friday sentenced Wisnowski, of Barnegat, to 120 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Prosecutors say Wisnowski admitted to robbing eight banks between Oct. 30, 2013 and Jan. 7, 2014:
- PNC Bank, Edison on Oct. 20, 2013
- TD Bank, Brick on Nov. 7, 2013
- Santander Bank, Brick on Nov. 15, 2013
- Ridgewood Savings Bank, Queens on Nov. 22, 2013
- Columbia Bank, Edison on Nov. 27, 2013
- TD Bank, Toms River on Dec. 2, 2013
- PNC Bank, Aberdeen on Dec. 9, 2013
- Fulton Bank, Edison on Jan. 7, 2014
Prosecutors say Wisnowski would typically rely on disguises -- including hats and wigs -- and sometimes indicated he was armed, threatening violence.
During his last robbery, according to prosecutors, Wisnowski lifted his sweatshirt as if he had a gun and told the teller that if they gave him what he wanted, "nobody gets hurt."
Authorities say he was arrested after police tracked his vehicle to the scene of that robbery at Fulton Bank, and confronted him as he left the building with a cash-filled envelope.
Man pleads guilty to robbing 8 banks in 3 months
Throwing the envelope aside, Sheridan fled when officers tried to detain him at gunpoint, but he was apprehended after a short foot pursuit, according to prosecutors.
In addition to the prison term, Sheridan ordered Wisnowski to pay $22,240 in restitution.
Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty. Find NJ.com on Facebook.