NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – Federal authorities say they believe the man behind two bank robberies in New York City this week is a convicted bank robber known as the “Broadway Bandit,” who just got out of prison.
The FBI believes Jamie Frierson, 49, robbed separate Apple Bank locations in the Bronx – a bank on East Fordham Road on Wednesday and a bank on East 161st Street on Thursday.
Witnesses to both robberies say the suspect handed employees notes demanding money and indicating he was armed.
No one was hurt during the robberies, according to the FBI, who didn't say if any money was stolen.
Frierson was recently released from prison after being sentenced for seven Manhattan bank robberies in August and September 2017.
At the time, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon Kim said Frierson “went on a one-man crime spree, brazenly attempting to rob seven Manhattan banks in broad daylight in less than two weeks.”
Authorities say Frierson threatened employees and netted thousands of dollars in the 2017 heists.
Frierson was found guilty in August 2018 and faced a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on each count, including three counts of robbery and two counts of attempted robbery. He was scheduled to be sentenced in December, but it wasn't immediately clear how much time he served.
The FBI says he was just released from prison before this week’s robberies.
Anyone with information about Frierson’s whereabouts are asked to call the New York Office of the FBI at 212-384-5000, or the NYPD Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS (8477). The FBI is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest in the case.