Crime & Safety

Ex-Con Pleads Guilty to 2012 Wading River Bank Robbery

Robert Fornal Jr. is set to be sentenced in late July, and faces sentencing in Nassau for residential burglaries.

An ex-convict from Bethpage is going back to jail after pleading guilty to robbing a Wading River bank in February of 2012.

Robert Fornal Jr. pleaded guilty to the sole count of third-degree robbery against him, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office. A spokesman said Fornal is set to be sentenced to two-and-a-half to five years in state prison on July 26.

Fornal robbed the Bridgehampton National Bank at the corner of Wading River-Manor Road and Route 25A on Feb. 16, 2012. He escaped the day of the robbery and eluded local authorities, though he was caught by Nassau County Police shortly thereafter for reportedly stealing jewelry and chimney caps from homes in East Meadow, and was later charged by Riverhead police.

According to Riverhead police at the time, a white male was reported to have entered the bank unarmed, handed the teller a bag, and demanded money. He was wearing a black hood, and possibly a black jacket. Police described the man as possibly in his 40s and wearing boots and jeans. He fled the scene on foot.

Fornal was tried and found guilty of some of the Nassau charges – burglary and criminal mischief – and pleaded guilty to criminal trespassing and petty larceny. He is due back in court for sentencing on those charges on July 11.

Records with the State Department of Corrections show that Fornal served time in the Queensboro Correctional Facility for criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree and attempted assault in the second degree, and was released in May of 2010.


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