By Karen Zautyk
Observer Correspondent
HARRISON –
A 35-year-old Harrison woman who robbed three banks over a three-week span earlier this year is facing up to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty in Federal Court in Newark, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced. The robbery spree had begun in Harrison.
Valeria Parziale entered her plea last Wednesday, Sept. 24, in connection with the Valentine’s Day hold-up of a Wells Fargo Bank in Newark.
Fishman said she also admitted to the two other heists: one at a Valley National Bank in Harrison on Jan. 30; the other, at a Popular Community Bank in Newark on Feb. 20.
Parziale, who reportedly has 15 aliases, was arrested by Newark police in that city on Feb. 24 and has been in custody since then.
Authorities said the first in her trio of crimes occurred at Valley National, 433 Harrison Ave., near S. Fifth St. According to the complaint filed by the FBI, Parziale, wearing a dark, hooded jacket, entered that bank at approximately 1:40 p.m., Jan. 30, and handed a teller a note reading: “Don’t BE Stupid! Put $3,000 in envelope 50/lOO’s I got a gun! Hurry Up.”
Although she claimed to be armed, no weapon was seen. (She, however, was clearly seen on the security video.)
There reportedly were seven employees but only one other customer in the bank at the time.
Parziale fled with approximately $3,000, leaving the note behind. Harrison police said investigation later revealed that she entered a cab several blocks away and was driven to Newark.
On Feb. 14, Parziale — this time wearing a hat, sunglasses and a wig — hit the Newark Wells Fargo Bank, demanding $3,500, again via a note indicating she was armed, the FBI said. The indictment provided the exact amount handed over: $3,320.28.
In the Feb. 20 incident at the Popular Community Bank, the robber once more produced a note demanding $3,500 but setting a 15-second time limit, authorities said. The complaint stated: “The teller told Parziale to wait, but Parziale left the bank before she received any money.”
When Parziale was nabbed in Newark four days later, she reportedly was in possession of a wig, sunglasses and a note that read, “I have a gun Don’t be stupid Give me $3,500 now! Put in envelope! You got 10 seconds! Don’t Risk Yourself.”
Following the Harrison robbery, surveillance photos had been circulated among law enforcement agencies. Kearny detectives obtained an identification on the suspect and turned the information over to the Harrison PD, which was working with Newark and the FBI. Fishman thanked both the Kearny and Harrison PDs “for their excellent work in this case.”
Parziale’s sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 23.
Along with the maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison, she faces a $250,000 fine.
