TWO DELAWARE MEN INDICTED FOR BANK ROBBERY

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Joshua Swinger, 21, and Andrew Takats, 23, both of Delaware, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Rutland for robbing the Citizens Bank of Poultney on February 21, 2008. Takats, who was arrested March 20, 2008 in Delaware and ordered transferred to the District of Vermont, appeared yesterday in United States District Court in Burlington and entered a plea of not guilty. Takats was released on conditions by U.S. Magistrate Judge Jerome J. Niedermeier. Co-defendant Swinger, who is being transferred to federal custody from the State of New Jersey, is scheduled to appear for arraignment in United States District Court in Brattleboro on April 30, 2008.

According to court records, on February 21, 2008, at approximately 10:17 a.m., a white male entered the Citizens Bank, located at 177 Main Street, Poultney, and handed a note to one of the tellers. The note read, "Be Calm I have a gun give me the money in all droors" [sic]. The robber provided the teller with a dark colored backpack. The teller proceeded to place approximately $2,298 in cash into the robber's backpack. No gun was shown to the teller. The robber then exited the bank. Shortly thereafter, a local Poultney business person told the police that he observed a white BMW, with a Delaware license plate with the first two numbers being 13, in Poultney, around the time of the robbery.

Court records further reveal that at approximately 2:09 p.m. on February 21, officers of the Mahwah, New Jersey Police Department stopped a 1993 white BMW 318, with Delaware license plate number 132550, on New Jersey Route 287, for speeding (72 mph in a 55 mph zone), and for an unsafe lane change. Officers identified the white male driver via his driver's license as Swinger. The passenger was identified as Takats. Found in the vehicle was a blue backpack containing approximately $2,240 in cash, and a silver colored plastic BB gun. Mahwah officers arrested Swinger and Takats for state law violations.

If convicted of the offense charged in the indictment, Takats and Swinger face up to 20 years' imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. The actual sentence in the event of conviction would be determined by the court with reference to the advisory federal sentencing guidelines. United States Attorney Thomas D. Anderson stated that Takats and Swinger are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Vermont State Police. U.S. Attorney Anderson also commended the work of the Mahwah Police Department. Takats is represented by attorney Maryanne Kampmann. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Nolan.