Serial bank robber allegedly threatened to ‘kill everyone’ in Queens branch

An alleged serial bank robber who was arrested earlier this week was slapped with federal charges for two of the heists — including one job where he threatened to kill everyone at a Chase branch in Queens, according to court documents unsealed Friday.

Craig Gernett, 42, was charged with bank robbery in Brooklyn federal court for that theft and another caper at a Queens Citibank earlier this month, according to the criminal complaint against him.

Prosecutors allege Gernett walked into the Court Square Citibank in Long Island City at about 12 p.m. on May 6 and handed a teller a robbery note, the complaint states.

“No die (sic) packs. No GPS. No bait money, make it fast put all the money you have in the drawer in envelopes this is not a joke. I have 2 people outside. I have a gun,” the note read.

The note Craig Gernett allegedly wrote before sticking up the bank.
The note Craig Gernett allegedly wrote before sticking up one of the banks.
Court documents
The teller forked over $1,115 and Gernett allegedly walked away with the cash, prosecutors allege.

On May 11, Gernett allegedly struck again, hitting a Chase bank on nearby Queens Plaza South, the complaint states.

He handed a teller a robbery note, who responded by asking “what is that,” according to prosecutors.

In the robbery, Craig Gernett came away with $1,115.
In the May 6 robbery, Craig Gernett came away with $1,115.
DCPI
“Are you kidding me, this is a robbery!” Gernett responded.

“I will kill everyone in here, pull from the second drawer,” he said.

The Post previously reported Gernett was cut loose from prison in August after serving 10 years for robbing four banks and 11 shops dating back to 2006.

Police believe he went on a robbery spree this month, which included the two Queens robberies, as well as two other bank jobs last week in Manhattan.

Craig Gernett had previously robbed other banks.
Craig Gernett had previously robbed other banks.
DCPI
Craig Gernett allegedly robbed two separate Queens banks this May.
Craig Gernett allegedly robbed two separate Queens banks this May.
Court documents
Prior to his sentencing in 2006, his lawyer at the time said he was a drug addict who was committing robberies to fund his addiction.

“Put simply, Mr. Gernett committed these robberies while on a crack binge … But underlying Mr. Gernett’s substance abuse problem — and, I submit, a cause of his addiction — is a serious mental illness,” his attorney wrote in court papers at the time.



Source - https://nypost.com/2021/05/21/serial-bank-robber-threatened-to-kill-everyone-in-queens-branch-feds/