East Orange Man Admits to Montclair Armed Bank Robbery

An East Orange man admitted on Thursday to committing a Montclair bank robbery two days after Christmas, U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said.

Robert Mercedes, 24, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Joel A. Pisano in Trenton federal court to information charging him with one count of bank robbery and one count of using a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence.

Mercedes admitted to brandishing a handgun and demanding PNC Bank employees to fill a backpack of money on Dec. 27, 2013, Fishman said. Mercedes told the employees, "I want 100s and 50s. I want 100s and 50s. You have 13 seconds."

Mercedes was apprehended later that same day by the East Orange Police Department with the assistance of the Montclair Police and FBI.

The Park Street bank robbery charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and the count of brandishing a handgun during the robbery carries a minimum sentence of seven years to a maximum lifetime sentence. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 23.