An Ohio man who was out on bail for allegedly committing a bank robbery in the Chicago area and who is charged in New Jersey with seven bank robberies or attempted bank robberies will make his initial court appearance by videoconference today, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
According to federal officials, Tyler O’Toole, 23, of Cleveland, Ohio, was arrested in Queens, New York, on November 14. He is charged by complaint with five counts of bank robbery and two counts of attempted bank robbery.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
O’Toole was arrested in Glenview, Illinois, on August 20, and charged in federal court in the Northern District of Illinois with bank robbery. O’Toole was released on bail and placed on home detention with electronic location monitoring.
On September 24, O’Toole removed his monitoring device, stole his mother’s blue 2018 Hyundai Elantra, and drove away. He later robbed, or attempted to rob seven New Jersey banks
At each bank, O’Toole presented a note demanding cash from bank tellers. For example, during the October 27 robbery of the Chase Bank in Lawrence Township, O’Toole handed the teller a manila envelope which stated:
This is a robbery. Comply and Nobody gets hurt.
Give me 20’s 50’s 100’s
NO Trackers or Ink Packs
Put Money in THIS Envelope
Be fast, Act Normal
Each bank robbery or attempted bank robbery charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The charges and allegations in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.