Mount Holly Man Admits Aiding Bank Robberies by Diverting Police with Hoax 911 Calls

CAMDEN, NJ—A Mount Holly man pleaded guilty today to three counts of aiding and abetting bank robberies, admitting he assisted others in the commission bank robberies by phoning in hoax 911 calls in an attempt to lead police away from the targeted bank, Acting U.S. Attorney Ralph J. Marra, Jr., announced.

Michael Barrett, 19, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Noel L. Hillman to a threecount Information. Judge Hillman continued the defendant’s detention and scheduled sentencing for Jan. 15.

At his plea hearing, Barrett admitted that he assisted Tarik Mackins, 29, of Trenton, and another individual, who is currently not charged, in the commission of three bank robbers that occurred in Maple Shade, Medford and Cherry Hill. Barrett admitted that on Sept. 29, 2008, the other individual, while driving a Pontiac Bonneville, picked him up and they then drove together to meet Mackins. After meeting Mackins, the individual gave Barrett a cell phone and Mackins a gun, according to Barrett. Upon arrival at a Sun National Bank branch in Maple Shade, the individual told Barrett to make a diversionary 911 call to the local police and report a crime, according to Barrett. Barrett admitted making the call, at which time the individual signaled Mackins to go into and rob the bank. Barrett admitted that a short time later, he and the individual met up with Mackins, who explained to them that the bank had installed bandit barriers over the teller counter and that he could not get any money.

Barrett further admitted that on Oct. 7, 2008, he, Mackins and the individual went to the area of a Columbia Savings Bank branch in Medford with the intention of robbing the bank. Upon arrival at the bank, Mackins had a .38 caliber revolver. The other individual instructed Barrett to make the diversionary 911 call, Barrett admitted. Barrett admitted that after he completed the phone call, Mackins went into the bank. A short time later, the individual and Barrett met up with Mackins, who had approximately $21,588 in cash he had taken from the bank.

On Oct. 20, 2008, while in the vicinity of a Commerce Bank in Cherry Hill, the individual gave Barrett a cell phone and instruct him to place a diversionary 911 call to the Cherry Hill Police Department, which he then did, Barrett admitted. The individual then gave Mackins a gun to rob the bank with, Barrett admitted. A short time later, Barrett and the individual met up with Mackins, who possessed approximately $26,372 that he had taken from the bank. Barrett admitted that some of the money was dye-stained and that they threw the exploded dye packs out of the vehicle as they drove toward Camden. Eventually, the three men went to Barrett’s residence to separate the clean money from the dye stained money, Barrett admitted. After separating the money, Barrett admitted he put the dye stained money into the washer and dryer in an attempt to clean it.

Mackins pleaded guilty before Judge Hillman on Aug. 13, to a four-count Information, that charged him with one count of attempted bank robbery, two counts of bank robbery and one count of use a firearm in further of a crime of violence. Judge Hillman continued Mackins’s detention and scheduled sentencing for Dec. 4.

The investigation in the actions of the third individual, who’s identity is known to law enforcement authorities, is continuing.

Each count of aiding and abetting a bank robbery carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

In determining an actual sentence, Judge Hillman will consult the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges that take into account the severity and characteristics of the offense, the defendant's criminal history, if any, and other factors. The judge, however, is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence.

Parole has been abolished in the federal system. Defendants who are given custodial terms must serve nearly all that time.

Marra credited Special Agents of the FBI’s Trenton and South Jersey Resident Agencies, under the direction of Special Agents in Charge Weysan Dun in Newark and Janice K. Fedarcyk in Philadelphia, respectively; Investigators with the Burlington County and Camden County Prosecutors’ Offices, under the direction of Prosecutors Robert D. Bernardi and Warren W. Faulk, respectively; and Police Officers with the Police Departments of Maple Shade, Medford and Cherry Hill, with the ongoing investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason M. Richardson of the Criminal Division in Camden.

Defense Attorney: Richard Coughlin, Federal Public Defender

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