A 22-year-old Columbus, Ohio man faces up to 20 years in prison per each robbed bank.
By: Leon Tovey
A 22-year-old Columbus, Ohio, man pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to robbing seven banks in Central Jersey last year, including the June 25 robbery of the Provident Bank in Monroe.
A spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office for the District of New Jersey said Tuesday that Caleb Frosh pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to seven counts of bank robbery.
Mr. Frosh was arrested Aug. 23 by police in Buffalo, N.Y., in connection with the New Jersey robberies and a home invasion in Columbus. Investigators at that time said they believed he committed the robberies in which he stole a total of $17,164 because he had a drug problem.
The spokesman said Tuesday that sentencing is scheduled for May 12 before U.S. District Court Judge Faith Hochberg. Each of the seven counts carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.
The seven robberies occurred between April 11 and Aug. 1. In each case, Mr. Frosh entered a bank and handed a note to a teller demanding money and insinuating that he had a weapon, according to a copy of the criminal complaint filed against him.
Investigators said Mr. Frosh did not have a weapon during any of the robberies.
Monroe Township police Detective Sgt. Lawrence Linke said Wednesday that police were pleased that Mr. Frosh had pleaded guilty. Sgt. Linke called the investigation that led to Mr. Frosh’s arrest a "great example of interagency cooperation."
The robberies were investigated by the FBI, the Somerset County prosecutor’s office, the New Jersey State Police and the Monroe, South Brunswick, Edison and Woodbridge police departments.