Postal Employee Pleads Guilty To Robbing 27 Banks In 5 States
An employee of the U.S. Postal Service who became known in the media as “The Puffy Cheek Bandit” admitted to committing a spree of 27 bank robberies at banks located in five different states over a four year period, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.
Cazzie L. Williams, 30, of East Orange, pleaded guilty today to a Four-Count Indictment alleging that he committed bank robbery at four New Jersey banks, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Deborah J. Gannett.
At his plea hearing today before the U.S. District Judge Joseph A. Greenaway, Jr., Williams admitted to robbing the four New Jersey banks and 23 others.
Williams admitted the details of the first robbery he committed on Sept. 19, 1998. On that day, he entered the First Union Bank located at 380 Lyons Ave. in Newark dressed in a New York Yankees baseball cap and a long sleeved shirt and handed the bank teller a note, which stated in substance: “Do Not Press the Police Signal Because I am Looking At Your Hands!!! You Have Less Than 2 Minutes to Pass Me As Many $100 Dollar Bills Under The Glass As You Can!!! If You Do Not Grant My Request I’ll Start Shooting Everyone in This Bank!!! The Clock is Ticking!!!” The teller complied and that robbery netted Williams approximately $1,000 in cash.
On June 5, 1999, Williams testified he walked into Sovereign Bank in Bloomfield, N.J. again wearing a Yankees baseball cap, approached a teller and handed her a very similar demand note. The teller also complied and handed Williams approximately $16,300 in cash.
Then, on Nov. 12, 1999, Williams struck twice, first at Summit Bank in Dover, N.J. During this robbery he handed over another note that stated in substance: “Do Not Press the Police Signal Because I Am Watching Your Hand Very Close. You Have Less Than 2 Minutes to Give Me All of the $100 Dollar Bills and All of the $50 Dollar Bills from This Register!!! Don’t Be Stupid Because Someone’s Life Could Be in Your Hands!!!”
For unknown reasons, Williams admitted he abruptly left the bank before getting any cash.
That same day, however, Williams went to Valley National Bank, in Paramus, N.J. and approached a bank teller with an identical note. This time, the teller complied with his demand and handed Williams approximately $6,000 in cash.
According to previously filed court documents, the victim bank tellers reported in each instance that the robber did not speak, but instead handed the teller the demand note.
In addition to admitting the four New Jersey robberies, Williams told Judge Greenaway, that during a four year period-between November 1998 and Sept. 3, 2002-he committed an additional 23 bank robberies in four other states: Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, and Virginia.
Williams testified that he did not speak during these robberies. Instead of speaking, Williams said he walked up to teller and handed the teller a note demanding that she give him all of the large bills she had, otherwise he would start shooting people who were in the bank.
Williams faces a maximum of 20 years on each count in the Indictment when he is sentenced. Judge Greenaway set sentencing for Aug. 13, 2003 at 9:30 a.m.
Christie credited the Federal Bureau of Investigation under the direction of Louie F. Allen with developing the case against Williams.
The Government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gannett of the U.S. Attorney’s Public Protection Division in Newark.
