NEWARK, N.J. – Sufyan A. Abdullah, 54, a resident of Newark, Essex County, was taken into custody and charged with two counts of bank robbery, as announced by U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger.
Abdullah was presented in Newark federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark III on Thursday.
Court documents reveal that on Saturday, July 8, Abdullah entered a bank in Elizabeth, New Jersey, passing a note to a teller, claiming possession of multiple firearms and threatening a mass shooting. However, he left the bank without any money.
On the following Saturday, July 15, Abdullah allegedly entered a Springfield, New Jersey bank, leaving what he claimed to be an explosive device on the counter and demanded money, threatening to detonate the device.
The alleged explosive device was later identified as a fake by law enforcement officials. Each of the bank robbery charges brought against Abdullah carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.