WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—The Rockland County EMT charged in connection with bank robberies in New York and New Jersey—one was in Park Ridge—has pleaded not guilty.
A spokesman for the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York said Yosef Ziegler, 23, was indicted Dec. 18 and arraigned Dec. 23.
Ziegler was arrested Nov. 26 in his hometown of Airmont on bank robbery charges after a raid conducted by the FBI and the Ramapo Police Department, said James Margolin, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of New York.
Altogether, Ziegler allegedly made off with more than $233,000 at four daring daylight bank robberies, Jan. 24 through Oct. 29, at which he threatened bank staff with what he asserted were explosives and a firearm.
A special agent’s summary of the investigation leading to Ziegler’s three bank robbery charges in New York show that the suspect’s partially revealed face in the Park Ridge robbery, along with surveillance footage of a white SUV getaway vehicle, were key to making an identification.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said at the time of the charges, “Ziegler’s alleged conduct not only put bank employees, law enforcement, and the public at risk. Traumatic events such as this can also cause lasting undue emotional distress on victims and bystanders.”
Ziegler, who briefly was free on $600,000 in bail, is in custody. He faces a maximum term of 25 years in federal prison for each of the three counts of bank robbery in New York.
Ziegler also faces federal prosecution in New Jersey.
Margolin told Pascack Press on Dec. 26 that Ziegler will appear for a pretrial conference at federal court in White Plains no later than Jan. 8, 2020.
Park Ridge allegedly was Ziegler’s second robbery of the 2019 spree. An initial FBI reward of $5,000 for information was raised to $10,000. It is not clear if anybody stands to collect.
According to the FBI:
• On Jan. 24 at approximately 4:20 p.m., Ziegler entered a bank in Pomona, New York, announced that he had a bomb, displayed a cylindrical device attached to wires, and demanded that employees empty the bank’s vault. He took $76,000 and fled.
• On April 17 at approximately noon Ziegler entered the Oritani Bank, at 177 Kinderkamack Road in Park Ridge, announced that he had a bomb, and demanded that employees empty the bank’s vault.
He took approximately $30,150 and then fled.
That robbery coincided with an unrelated fake 911 call on a shooting elsewhere in town
• On June 25 at approximately 11:50 a.m., Ziegler entered a bank in Wappingers Falls, New York, announced that he had bomb, with a device in his hand attached to wires that connected to his belt, and demanded that employees empty the vault and teller draws.
He took approximately $22,500 and then fled.
• On Oct. 29 at approximately noon Ziegler entered a bank in Fishkill, New York, wielding what appeared to be a firearm, which he pointed at employees while demanding that they empty the bank’s vault.
He took approximately $105,000 and then fled.
After charges were filed, Berman praised the investigative work of the FBI Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force, FBI Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force, FBI Newark Division, Bergen County Prosecutors Office, the Ramapo Police Department, the Fishkill Police Department, the New York State Police, and the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office.
He also thanked the Rockland County District Attorneys Office for their assistance.
This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Heavey is in charge of the prosecution.