A Pennsylvania man made his initial appearance today in connection with the February 2020 robberies of two Camden County banks U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Officials said Mr. Leon I. Stanford, 51, of Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, is charged by complaint with two counts of bank robbery.
The defendant was previously arrested by state authorities. He appeared by videoconference today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joel Schneider and was detained without bail.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Feb. 22, 2020, Stanford entered the TD Bank in Oaklyn, and handed the bank teller a note, which announced a robbery and demanded cash.
The bank teller complied, and witnesses saw Stanford depart in a white SUV.
On Feb. 24, 2020, Stanford entered the Republic Bank in Cherry Hill, and similarly handed the bank teller a note which announced a robbery and demanded cash. The bank teller complied and witnesses saw Stanford depart in a white SUV.
Law enforcement officers were able to obtain a partial license plate number for the white SUV from surveillance videos in the area of both bank robberies, which generated a lead to a vehicle driven by Stanford.
Numerous individuals familiar with Stanford identified him as the person in the bank surveillance videos.
At the time of these bank robberies, Stanford was on federal supervised release as a result of his prior bank robbery convictions, for which he served a 10-year prison term.
Each bank robbery charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.
Stanford could face additional penalties for violating his term of supervised release.