Prosecutor: Beer Bottle Helps Bust Bumbling Bank Bandit Who Had Bad Socks in Burlington County, NJ
A 38-year-old man, who apparently had the universe stacked against him when he robbed a bank a number of years ago, has been found guilty of first-degree robbery.
Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia Bradshaw's office says Cortney Bell robbed the TD Bank branch on Elizabeth Street in Pemberton on July 23rd, 2019.
Employees and customers told authorities a man entered the bank wearing a hooded sweatshirt, bandana, sunglasses, and dirty sweat socks on his hands. He approached a teller with his hand in his pocket pointing toward her, saying he had a gun. He threatened to start shooting the tellers unless they provided him with money.
The investigation revealed that the bandit was given a few bundles of cash, which he dropped on the floor while attempting to exit the bank. As he was picking up the fallen currency, a Corona Light beer bottle fell out of his pocket.
He fled the bank with $600.
Investigators took the bottle to a New Jersey State Police laboratory where forensic scientists were able to obtain a DNA sample that was ultimately matched to Bell.
He was charged with robbing that bank in December 2020.
The warrant was served to him in the Burlington County Jail where he was awaiting trial for a separate offense.
After deliberating for about two and a half hours, a Superior Court jury returned the verdict against Bell on January 31st.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 21st.