Biking bandit confesses to eight bank robberies

A Gloucester County man who used a bicycle as his getaway vehicle admitted today he pulled eight bank robberies in Delaware and South Jersey.

Brian S. Layton, 48, of Mount Royal, appeared before Judge Jerome B. Simandle in U.S. District Court in Camden, where he pleaded guilty to eight counts of bank robbery for a string of heists that started in September 2008.

Layton admitted he demanded money, one time threatening the teller with a pellet gun, as he made off with $58,000 from the banks, including TD Banknorth in Blackwood, Sun National Bank in Glendora and TD Bank in Hi-Nella.

Layton was arrested on Sept. 25 after fleeing from a New Jersey State Trooper on the Garden State Parkway. At the time of his arrest, Layton was in possession of the money from the robbery earlier that day of The Bank in Carneys Point.

In pleading guilty, Layton admitted his spree started in Wilmington, where he robbed the WFSF Bank of $2,102.

The two robberies at The Bank netted the most money, $20,400 in May and $12,148 in September.

Each count carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a $250,000 maximum fine.