Cornell Neilly, a 35-year-old repeat offender nicknamed the "Burberry Bandit," has been released from custody despite allegedly robbing five New York City banks in a one-month crime spree.
According to Fox News, Neilly was arrested on September 15 following the string of robberies but was subsequently released on supervised release by Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Jeffrey Gershuny, who rejected prosecutors' request for bail.
Neilly earned his distinctive nickname back in 2012 when surveillance cameras captured him wearing clothing with a pattern similar to the luxury Burberry brand while committing bank robberies. His recent alleged crime spree began on August 16 when he reportedly entered a Chase Bank in Midtown Manhattan and passed a note demanding $3,500, ultimately leaving with $1,000.
Serial Bank Robber's Month-Long Crime Wave
The alleged bank robber continued his spree on August 25, targeting another Chase Bank on Park Avenue, where he demanded the same amount but escaped with $716. On September 9, Neilly allegedly entered a third Chase Bank in Midtown Manhattan demanding $4,500, but fled when the teller activated an alarm.
Neilly's final two alleged robbery attempts occurred on consecutive days in mid-September. On September 12, he reportedly demanded $3,500 from a Chase Bank in the West Village, and the following day left empty-handed after a Chelsea Chase Bank teller triggered a silent alarm.
The teller activated the alarm after receiving a note reading, "This is a robbery. I want all large bills. Now. This is real." The NYPD confirmed to Fox News Digital that Neilly has an extensive criminal history with over 34 prior arrests for previous bank robberies.
Controversial Judicial Decision Sparks Criticism
Despite this lengthy record and the recent string of alleged robberies, Judge Gershuny denied the prosecution's request for $50,000 cash bail or $150,000 bond. Instead, the judge ordered supervised release, allowing Neilly to walk free while awaiting his next court appearance.
An anonymous NYPD officer told the New York Post that the judge's decision showed "a real lack of care for public safety." The officer questioned what might happen if Neilly escalates his methods, asking, "At what point does he keep getting out and gets desperate and brings a gun to a robbery instead of a note and kills somebody?"
Judge Gershuny, who was appointed by then-Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2019, was reportedly demoted just one month before this decision. According to the New York Post, the demotion came after an August incident where Gershuny pulled out his own gun while presiding over a weapons case.
Judge's Previous Controversial Behavior
The incident reportedly occurred when Gershuny asked a police officer to demonstrate how a suspect concealed a weapon during a court hearing. This behavior resulted in Gershuny being reassigned to handling misdemeanor cases in Manhattan Criminal Court's night court.
When contacted about the bail decision, Al Baker, spokesman for the state Office of Court Administration, declined to comment specifically on the case. Baker noted that bail decisions involve "discretionary weighing of a broad range of factors" to assess flight risk.
The spokesman further explained that judges consider "information and arguments presented by the prosecutor and defense counsel, as well as other materials submitted to the court." This assessment process is meant to make an individualized determination for each defendant rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.
Legal Proceedings And Public Safety Concerns
Neilly now faces five counts of felony robbery and is scheduled to return to court on October 1. Court documents obtained by Fox News Digital confirm these charges, though Neilly's attorney did not respond to requests for comment from the news outlet.
The case highlights ongoing debates about bail reform and public safety in New York City. Critics argue that releasing repeat offenders endangers the public and fails to hold criminals accountable for their actions.
Supporters of bail reform contend that the system should focus on flight risk rather than using cash bail as a form of pretrial detention. They maintain that pretrial release should be based on factors other than a defendant's financial resources.
