“Broadway Bandit” Arrested 15 Days After Release From Federal Prison For Prior Bank Robberies

Geoffrey S. Berman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William F. Sweeney Jr., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and James P. O’Neill, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced that JAMIE FRIERSON was arrested for robbing a bank in the Bronx on May 8, 2019, 15 days after he was released from federal prison in connection with convictions for five previous bank robberies in Manhattan.  FRIERSON was arrested this morning.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “As alleged, nine days after being released from a stint in prison for bank robbery, ‘Broadway Bandit’ Jamie Frierson was back for a repeat performance, this time brazenly robbing a bank in the Bronx.  His alleged threats of violence have again endangered the safety of New Yorkers.  Thankfully, due to the hard work and rapid response of the FBI/NYPD Violent Crime Task Force, Frierson is now in custody.”

FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said:  “After being released from federal prison for robbing banks, Jamie Frierson allegedly went right back to the very crime that put him in jail in the first place.  He clearly did not learn a lesson.  Our FBI/NYPD Violent Crimes Task Force worked hard to track Mr. Frierson down before he was able to hit yet another bank.”

Commissioner James P. O’Neill  said:  “The rapid apprehension of this individual wouldn’t be possible without the active cooperation between the banking community and our local, state and federal law enforcement partners.  By precisely targeting the relatively small percentage of people responsible for committing much of the violence in New York, we are making the safest large city in America even safer.  We remain relentless in our efforts to identify, arrest, and prosecute anyone who involves themselves in such behavior whether it is on our streets or in our jails.”

According to the allegations in the Complaint[1] unsealed today and public court records:

On May 8, 2019, at approximately 2:54 p.m., FRIERSON entered a bank (“Bank-1”) at 120 East Fordham Road between Creston Avenue and East 190th Street in the Bronx, New York.  Upon approaching a teller window at Bank-1, FRIERSON passed a note to a bank teller (“Teller-1”), which read:  “I AM ARMED GIVE ME ALL OF IT!  100’S, 50’S, 20, 10 IMMEDIATELY NO DIE PACKS.”  After providing Teller-1 with the note, FRIERSON told Teller-1, in substance and in part: “Give me all hundreds.  Give me all your money.  I’m armed.”  Teller-1 gave FRIERSON approximately $200 of Bank-1’s money and FRIERSON fled.

FRIERSON was previously charged and convicted in the Southern District of New York after a jury trial for committing five bank robberies in Manhattan between August 16, 2017, and August 29, 2017.  Evidence at trial established that the defendant committed these robberies by passing notes to tellers threatening that FRIERSON had a gun.  FRIERSON was released from prison on April 29, 2019.

*                *                *

FRIERSON, 49, of New York, New York, has been charged with one count of bank robbery, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI/NYPD Violent Crime Task Force and the NYPD Warrants – BRONX/JAWS Team. 

The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit.  Assistant United States Attorneys Aline R. Flodr, Sheb Swett, and Sagar K. Ravi are in charge of the prosecution.

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.