Drag queen bank robber Huy Trong Luong sentenced to prison term for nine bank robberies

August 14
Legal News Examiner
William Pfeifer, Jr.

Huy Trong Luong of Jersey City, New Jersey, was sentenced on August 12 for a series of bank robberies and attempted bank robberies committed in New Jersey and Connecticut. Over a five-month period in 2008, Luong robbed or attempted to rob nine different banks and stole more than $39,000. Each robbery was committed while Luong was disguised as a woman. U.S. District Judge Jerome B. Simandle sentenced Luong to twelve years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $39,067 in restitution.

Luong entered a guilty plea to two counts of bank robbery on March 31, 2009. The two bank robberies which were the basis for the plea were the Commerce Bank in Bergenfield, New Jersey, and a Wachovia branch in Greenwich, Connecticut. As part of the plea, Luong also admitted to the other seven robberies, which were also considered at sentencing. Luong was indicted in both New Jersey and in Connecticut, and the cases were consolidated in New Jersey for purposes of the guilty plea and sentencing.

Luong's cross-dressing disguise failed to protect him during his failed robbery attempt of a bank in Chatham, New Jersey, on May 5, 2008. Police found a black wig, a black Dolce & Gabbana hat, a woman's make-up kit, and a black jacket inside his getaway minivan. His minivan also contained Roman candle fireworks disguised as dynamite. Luong admitted that he made death threats or threats of violence to the bank tellers during the robberies, and during the three Connecticut bank robberies he passed the tellers a note that he had a bomb.

During his plea hearing, Luong admitted to a total of nine robberies. On January 11. 2008, Luong robbed a Wachovia Bank in Greenwich, Connecticut, of $2,000. On January 13, 2008, he robbed $2,000 from Commerce Bank in Westport, Connecticut. On January 22, 2008, Luong robbed Provident Bank in Toms River, New Jersey, of $11,109. On April 20, 2008, he robbed the Commerce Bank in New Canaan, Connecticut, of $3,600. On April 26, 2008, he attempted to rob the Wachovia Bank in Highland Park, N.J.. On April 28, 2008, he robbed Commerce Bank in Stafford Twp., N.J., of $5,388. On April 30, 2008, he robbed the Commerce Bank in Bergenfield, N.J., of $12,020. Luong robbed Commerce Bank in Mahwah, N.J., of $2,950 on May 4, 2008, and on May 5, 2008, he attempted to rob the Commerce Bank in Chatham, N.J. The final failed robbery of the Commerce Bank resulted in his arrest.

Thats... wow. lol doesn't begin to cover this.

Pleads to bank heists in drag Drag bank robber: I plead guilty Who's that lady robber? He was

Jersey Journal
Wednesday, April 01, 2009

CAMDEN - A Jersey City man yesterday admitted robbing or attempting to rob nine banks dressed as a woman in New Jersey and Connecticut over a five-month period last year and getting away with more than $39,000, Acting U.S. Attorney Ralph J. Marra Jr. announced.

Huy Trong Luong, 40, pleaded guilty to two counts of bank robbery associated with the Jan. 11, 2008, robbery of a Wachovia branch in Greenwich, Conn., and the April 20, 2008 robbery of Commerce Bank in Bergenfield. Luong also admitted committing the other seven robberies.

In each robbery, Luong disguised himself as a woman, authorities said. Luong was arrested last May 5 in Chatham after a bank robbery failed. Inside his minivan, cops found a black wig, a black Dolce & Gabbana hat, a women's make-up kit and black jacket.

Luong is to be sentenced July 10. Under terms of his plea agreement, Luong faces a potential sentencing range of between 70 and 87 months in prison. He also faces fines and mandatory restitution to the banks.

Luong, who was listed as living on Bergen Avenue near Kensington when he was arrested, did not rob any banks in Hudson County, according to his admissions in court.

In court yesterday, Luong admitted he made death threats or threatened the tellers with violence in each of the robberies. At the time of arrest, a fake bomb - Roman candle fireworks with fuses, wrapped together - were found in Luong's minivan.

JOURNAL STAFF

Quote:

It was taken from a blogger who found it on the web - it seems to check out.
http://www.aznlover.com/vbulletin/new ... t-bank-robber-caught.html

Amazing. Please file in "JCList Hall of Fame."

I almost thought it was an April Fool's Day joke.

PS: is that really her or did you swipe the photo from somewhere else?

Drag queen bank robber admits to string of Connecticut heists

The Advocate
03/31/2009
By Debra Friedman

A New Jersey man who admitted to a string of bank robberies, three of which occurred in Greenwich, Westport and New Canaan, pleaded guilty to two counts of bank robbery Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Newark, N.J.

Huy Trong Luong, 40, of Jersey City, N.J., who officials said dressed as a woman during each robbery, told the court he was guilty of robbing a Wachovia bank branch in Old Greenwich on Jan. 11, 2008, as well as a Commerce Bank in Bergenfield on April 20, 2008.

At the court hearing, Luong also admitted to committing seven other robberies, including one in New Canaan, also on April 20, 2008, and another in Westport on Jan. 13, 2008.

Though he was not charged in those instances, the court said it will take into account Luong's conduct before sentencing, according to a statement issued Tuesday by the U.S. attorney's office. Luong is believed to have stolen a total of $39,000 among all of the nine robberies, officials said.

The criminal complaint filed against Luong describes how he would disguise himself as a woman, using wigs and hats, for each robbery.

"Inside his getaway minivan, police found a black wig, a black Dolce & Gabbana hat, a women's makeup kit and black jacket," the complaint said.

Detective Lt. Mark Marino, head of the Greenwich police Criminal Investigations Division, said he was pleased with the guilty plea.

"This is good news. He certainly caused quite a
bit of commotion and disturbance," said Marino, adding that during the Greenwich robbery, Luong pretended to have a bomb.

"When he was apprehended in New Jersey, we conferred with the FBI and exchanged information with regards to our robbery. We learned he had made admissions with regards to the Old Greenwich robbery," Marino said.

Luong had faced federal charges and will not face any additional charges from Greenwich police, Marino said.

Greenwich police said Luong wore a wig and sunglasses when robbing the bank at 190 Sound Beach Ave. in Old Greenwich.

Luong entered the Wachovia bank in Old Greenwich during the afternoon of Jan. 11, 2008, putting a bag on the counter in front of a teller with a note that said it was a bomb and demanding money, police said.

The teller complied, and Luong made off with $2000, according to Marino.

Federal officials said Luong made several death threats in each of the robberies by pretending to have bombs and in some cases, wrapping candles together to look like dynamite fuses.

Luong's guilty plea came before U.S. District Judge Jerome Simandle as part of a plea agreement that stipulates he will face from 70 to 87 months in prison.

Court officials said his criminal history could increase the sentence. Luong also faces fines and mandatory restitution to the banks.

His sentencing is scheduled for July 10.