Bergen Man Pleads Guilty to Mountain Lakes Bank Robbery

Tony Winst faces up to 20 years in prison for November 2023 heist.

Tony Winst, 46, of Cresskill, New Jersey, admitted in federal court to robbing a bank in Mountain Lakes, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Winst pleaded guilty to a bank robbery charge before U.S. District Judge Edward S. Kiel in Camden.

Details of the Crime

According to court documents and statements, on November 17, 2023, Winst entered a Mountain Lakes bank and handed a teller a note stating, "this is a robbery." Claiming to have a weapon, Winst demanded money, which the teller complied with before he fled the scene.

Legal Consequences

The charge of bank robbery carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for April 2, 2025.

Investigation and Prosecution

The FBI, under Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado in Newark, led the investigation, with support from the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, directed by Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, and the Mountain Lakes Police Department, led by Chief Shawn Bennett.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Nadel of the General Crimes Unit in Newark is prosecuting the case.

This guilty plea underscores the commitment of federal and local law enforcement to addressing crimes that impact community safety.