Toms River man to Answer for Multiple Bank Robberies

Written by F.B.I. Newark Office Friday, 05 February 2010 14:19

Newsbrief - Law and Order

Newark, NJ –   Acting Special Agent In Charge Kevin Cruise announced today the arrest of  47 year old Scott Mackay, Jr., of Toms River on Saturday, January 30, 2010 in connection with multiple bank robberies in Ocean and Monmouth counties.

According to the criminal complaint, the Wachovia Bank located at 108 Lacey Road in Manchester, New Jersey was robbed at approximately 1:11 pm on October 15, 2009.  The robber was a white male with a moustache, wearing a dark baseball cap and dark hooded sweatshirt.  The robber presented the teller a demand note for which he received a sum of money and then fled the bank  in a green four-door Ford sedan.

Based on the complaint, a similar robbery occurred at the Wachovia Bank located at 3 Highway 9, Manalapan, New Jersey on January 28, 2010 at approximately 1:30 pm.  The robber fit the description of the robber in the October 15, 2009 robbery described above and had the same modus operandi.  He fled the bank with a sum of money.

A police bulletin with the bank robber’s physical description and bank surveillance photograph was disseminated to law enforcement in the area.  A police officer recognized the image of the robber in the photograph as Scott Mackay.  Further investigation confirmed that Mackay had rented a vehicle matching the description of the getaway vehicle used in the robbery of the Wachovia Manchester Branch.  That rental vehicle was returned by Mackay on October 15, 2009 after the time of the robbery.

On January 30, 2010, two similar robberies occurred, allegedly committed by a robber fitting the description of Scott Mackay.  Later that day, Mackay was arrested and interviewed.  According to the complaint, law enforcement was able to confirm that Mackay  robbed both the Manchester and Manalapan branches of Wachovia Bank as well as seven other banks since February 2009.

“The cooperation between law enforcement in this matter was remarkable,” said Kevin Cruise, Acting Special Agent In Charge of the FBI’s Newark field office.  “Willingboro, Toms River, Ocean Township, Brick Township, Manchester Township, Manalapan Township, Stafford Township, and the prosecutor’s offices in both Ocean and Monmouth Counties –they all functioned together with us like a well-oiled machine.  Mr. Mackay never had a chance.  I want to publicly thank all of them for a job well done.”

MacKay is scheduled for his initial appearance today before Honorable Tonianne J. Bongiovanni, U.S. Magistrate Judge in Trenton, New Jersey.  If convicted, Mackay faces up to 20 years in prison plus fines for each count of bank robbery.  A criminal complaint is only an accusation.  Every defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

It should be noted that it is the policy of the FBI not to disclose the amount of money obtained by suspects in bank robberies.