Credit: Bucks County Department of Corrections
The man suspected of robbing a Falls Township bank in March and attempting to rob a Morrisville Borough bank in April was taken into custody by federal agents as he smoked a cigarette recently outside the Trenton, N.J. apartment building where he lived, authorities said.
Michael Riccitiello, 56, of Trenton, waived extradition from New Jersey and sits in Bucks County jail waiting to be arraigned on May 28 before Falls District Judge Jan Vislosky on felony charges.
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According to police, the 56-year-old walked into the TD Bank on West Trenton Avenue in the Morrisville section of Falls Township on Saturday, March 23 and wrote something on paper at the transaction table. He then walked up to the teller counter, using bank slips cover his fingers, and requested the teller give him all of her $50 and $100 bills.
Although he did not display a weapon, he reportedly said, “Don’t hit the alarm or I’ll shoot.”
After getting the cash from the teller, according to police, he walked out the door and headed toward West Trenton Avenue. Police searched the area but did not find the suspect.
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READ: Robberies Could Be Linked; Reward Offered By Bank
On the morning of April 13, investigators believe Riccitello attempted to rob the Bank of the American in Morrisville Borough. According to court documents, he acted as if he had a gun in his pocket and demanded $50 and $100 bills from a teller, who spooked the him when she signaled for a manager to hit a robbery alarm.
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Investigators prepared press releases and surveillance photographs that were distributed to media outlets in Pennsylvania and New Jersey after the incidents. Trenton police were also provided images of the suspect.
Trenton police were contacted several days after the Morrisville attempted bank robbery by the girlfriend of Riccitello, according to an affidavit.
Credit: FBI
The woman described Riccitello as her “Sugar Daddy” and said she was “positive” the bank robber whose photographs were published in the Trentonian were of her boyfriend, police said. She also told authorities she saw Riccitiello wearing the same clothing pictured in the Morrisville surveillance images.
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When interviewed by Falls police, Riccitello’s girlfriend said she recalled a recent conversation with him in which he bragged about robbing a bank with a guy named Joe. The woman had no further information on Joe.
Police showed the woman previous booking photos of Riccitello and bank surveillance footage. The woman said the man in the video was Riccitello.
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Investigators and a member of the district attorney’s office listened to a pre-arranged phone call between the woman and Riccitello on April 19. In the call, Riccitello made several statements about his involvement in the two bank robberies and specifically mentioned the Bank of America attempted robbery, police said. He also acknowledged in the phone calls it was his photo that appeared with the newspaper’s article on the robbery.
Law enforcement officials were conducting surveillance on Riccitello the evening before a raid that was set to take place the next morning when they saw him going outside his apartment building to smoke a cigarette, according to Lt. Todd Pletnick. Believing 56-year-old was unarmed, U.S. Marshals swooped in and took Riccitello into custody, the lieutenant told LevittownNow.com.
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