Burberry Bandit Back on the Streets
A man known as the “Burberry Bandit” in New York City has been released from prison after a series of bank robberies.
Cornell Neely, 35, gained his nickname back in 2012, thanks to surveillance footage that showed him dressed in a plaid shirt resembling a luxury designer brand. Recently, he was arrested on September 15 for allegedly robbing five banks in just a month. Reports indicate that Neely handed notes to bank tellers demanding cash.
It all started on August 16 when he walked into a Chase Bank in Midtown Manhattan. He handed a note asking for $3,500, but ended up with $1,000 before making his escape. Just a week later, on August 25, he tried his luck again at another Chase Bank, insisting on the same amount.
Things escalated quickly. On September 9, Neely entered yet another Chase location and asked for $4,500 but quickly fled after the alarm was triggered. Then, on September 12, he attempted to get $3,500 from a different Chase Bank. The very next day, he allegedly wrote a note at Chelsea Chase Bank saying, “This is a robbery. I want all the big bills. Now this is real.” However, he left without any money.
Despite his extensive criminal history, which includes 34 previous bank robbery arrests, he was granted supervised release after appearing before Judge Jeffrey Gershney of Brooklyn Supreme Court. Media reports mentioned that, in 2019, former Mayor Bill de Blasio had denied a prosecutor’s request for substantial bail—$50,000 cash or $150,000 bond.
“I mean, how does a judge make such a decision? It seems reckless,” said an anonymous NYPD officer. “What if he escalates to using a gun instead of just a note?” This decision follows some controversy surrounding Judge Gershney, who was recently demoted for an earlier incident involving a weapon in court.
Related: Calls for reforms in bail practices
During an August hearing, Gershney had asked officers to explain how suspects conceal their weapons. According to Al Baker, a spokesman for the state court office, the court refrains from commenting on individual bail decisions, mentioning that many factors are considered when assessing a defendant’s risk.
Neely is facing five felony robbery charges and is scheduled to return to court on October 1. His attorney has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the situation. Meanwhile, the NYPD has confirmed the charges but didn’t comment further on past arrests.
