Readington Township Police Officer Recognized by FBI for Apprehension of Serial Bank Robber

NEWARK, NJ—Today, Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward presented a certificate of commendation for Corporal Carlos Ferreiro of the Readington Township, New Jersey Police Department for his work in the identification, pursuit, and capture of armed bank robber, Joseph McAdams. McAdams was responsible for 14 violent armed bank robberies throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania in which he would typically take over a bank at closing time with the use a firearm, manhandle the bank employees, threaten their lives, and demand access to the vaults. McAdams stole a substantial sum of money and was not identified before his arrest.

On the evening of October 9, 2008, Corporal Ferreiro and other units from the Readington Township Police Department responded to a 9-1-1 call of an armed bank robbery at the Investors Savings Bank located at 3563 Route 22 East, Whitehouse Station, New Jersey. Ferreiro, using his police training and procedures instilled by his department, identified a suspicious vehicle. Ferreiro began to follow the vehicle while he called in the license plate to dispatch for a database check shortly before the vehicle pulled into a residence. When Corporal Ferreiro received the response to his request, he noted that the make of the vehicle he observed did not match the information on file for that license plate. At that point, he returned to the residence and witnessed the vehicle departing the driveway. Corporal Ferreiro followed the vehicle and attempted to make a traffic stop when the vehicle sped off.

Corporal Ferreiro initiated a vehicle pursuit on major roadways which lasted 10 miles. Though the pursuit occurred during rush hour traffic, the corporal never lost sight of the fleeing subject vehicle. Eventually, the corporal followed the vehicle into a residential parking lot, where he was able to box it in and immobilize it with his police vehicle, thus ending the chase. Corporal Ferreiro maintained visual contact with the subject driver until other police units arrived. That driver, later identified as Joseph McAdams, was taken into custody without incident. Recovered in a subsequent search of McAdams' vehicle were the proceeds from the Investors Savings Bank robbery in Whitehouse Station, as well as the mask worn and the weapon used during the commission of that crime.

As a direct result of Corporal Ferreiro's astute police work and his driving skills, Joseph McAdams, an experienced armed bank robber, was apprehended before he was given the opportunity to victimize additional banks and innocent people. On September 25, 2009, Joseph McAdams pled guilty to 10 armed bank robberies and admitted to four additional robberies. For his crimes, McAdams was sentenced to 319 months (26 ½ years) in federal prison.

On behalf of the FBI and Director Robert Mueller, Special Agent in Charge Michael Ward would like to thank Corporal Ferreiro and the Readington Police Department for their assistance in McAdams apprehension.

“Bank robbery violations are a continuing concern due to the danger these crimes sometimes present,” said Ward. “In instances such as those attributable to this case, in which we had a subject responsible for 14 ‘armed takeover’ robberies of banking establishments, the risk of violence and physical harm is especially great. Corporal Ferreiro did an outstanding job of responding to a bank alarm, quickly processing the environment and identifying suspicious activity, then taking the appropriate law enforcement action. His direct actions brought the subject into custody, all the while ensuring the safety of the public. On behalf of the men and women of the FBI, it is my pleasure to recognize Corporal Ferreiro for his heroic job performance.”

Sebastian Donaruma, Chief of the Readington Police Department, added these remarks: “Corporal Ferreiro’s attention to detail and determined effort led to the arrest of McAdams and removed a dangerous career criminal from our community. Corporal Ferreiro’s actions are a testament to the professionalism and dedication of all officers of the Readington Township Police Department.”

Corporal Carlos Ferreiro has served honorably on the Readington Township police force for five years, during which time he has received numerous commendations. Most notably, Corporal Ferreiro was recognized for his involvement in the April 6, 2007 capture of Francisco J. Herrera-Genao, a member of a an armed bank robbery crew that robbed numerous banks throughout New Jersey, including the PNC Bank on Route 22 in Readington Township. FBI Special Agent Barry Bush lost his life during the apprehension of Herrera-Genao’s partners. Herrera-Genao, himself, was captured the following morning by Readington Police after an all night pursuit through the woods. Corporal Ferreiro is also a Hunterdon County SWAT team operator and field training officer for new Readington Township police recruits.