A Manhattan man accused of robbing four bank branches in a 10-day stretch has landed in federal court, where he has agreed to stay behind bars while the case plays out. Prosecutors say the alleged robber used notes and threats at teller windows across Manhattan, hitting multiple locations before his arrest. He remained in state custody as federal authorities moved to bring the case onto the Southern District of New York docket.
According to Inner City Press, the defendant, identified in court filings as Cruz, was presented in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and "consented to detention." The matter is captioned USA v. Cruz, 1:26-mj-2250 (Cave), and Inner City Press reports it was the only media outlet in the courtroom for the brief proceeding.
Upper West Side Holdups
Police say the robbery pattern targeted bank branches along Broadway between West 94th and West 109th streets between May 26 and June 1. As reported by West Side Rag, the first incidents were logged on May 26 at a Bank of America and a nearby TD Bank, followed by a June 1 hold-up at another Broadway branch. Officers told reporters that roughly $1,700 and $800 were taken in two of the robberies. The NYPD released a photo and description of the suspect, and the department listing on CrimeInfo shows the entry for the May 26 TD Bank robbery.
Federal Presentation And Next Steps
Inner City Press reports that the Assistant U.S. Attorney told the court the defendant was arrested by the NYPD and held at the Eric M. Taylor Center before being brought into federal custody on a writ. The defendant waived his preliminary hearing to the 30th day and, according to the federal defender, "consented to detention" because he remained in state custody. Federal prosecutors will now decide whether to seek an indictment in SDNY as the investigation continues.
Anyone with information about the Broadway robberies is asked to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers or submit a tip to local authorities, according to local reporting. The magistrate case remains open in SDNY while the defense and prosecution prepare for upcoming pretrial deadlines.
