Credit: Evesham police
An Atlantic County, New Jersey, man admitted to robbing a Bristol Township bank and two others.
Federal prosecutors in New Jersey said Matthew Burney, 44, of Brigantine, New Jersey, pleaded guilty Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Joseph Rodriguez in Camden to information charging him with one count of bank robbery for a December 8, 2017 robbery at a PNC Bank in Marlton, New Jersey. He also admitted to the robbery at Bank of America in Queen Anne Plaza in Fairless Hills at 1 p.m. on Saturday, December 9 and the February 2017 robbery of the Chase Bank in North Brunswick, New Jersey.
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Burney covered his face as he walked to the Bristol Township bank. He pointed what appeared to be a gun at a bank staff member who was standing only a foot or two away. He then forced him to the ground and warned them not to push the alarm or let their phones ring.
“This is a robbery,” he told staff.
“This is not a joke.”
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In court papers filed in federal court earlier this year, authorities said Burney made off with $29,700 in cash from the bank.
The robbery occurred during a light snow and police followed Burney’s footprints to a the nearby vacant Mobil gas station where he got in a car and escaped.
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In mid-December 2017, New Jersey authorities armed with warrants arrested Burney at his place of employment, Jersey Jack Pinball in Lakewood, New Jersey. While searching his SUV, they found $6,188 in cash, authorities said.
Burney was convicted of robbing a bank in Toms River, New Jersey, and Brick, New Jersey, in 2007. He was released from custody in 2016 and placed on supervision.
Burney will be sentenced at a future date and could face as much as 20 years in prison and a fine of either $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.
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District of New Jersey U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito gave thanks for the FBI’s Trenton Resident Agency, Evesham police in New Jersey, Bristol Township police, and the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office in New Jersey for their work on the case.
