Tremone Burnett in some cases tied up employees and brandished a gun, authorities charge.
NEWARK -- An Orange man is facing the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison on charges he allegedly held up workers in hotels in New Jersey and New York over a six-week period in 2014.
Tremone Burnett was arraigned Monday before U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden on charges that he held up workers at 14 hotels from April through June, 2014.
Burnett faces charges for each of the alleged robberies as well as for brandishing a gun during the crimes, authorities said. If convicted on the robbery and gun charges, he would be required to serve the sentences consecutively, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Barry Kamar.
"Effectively, the defendant is looking at life" in prison if convicted, he said.
Burnett, who is represented by public defender Chester Keller, did not speak during his appearance. He is pleading not guilty.
According to court records, Burnett allegedly held up employees at these hotels in 2014: Howard Johnson's in Newark, April 24; Comfort Suites, Woodbridge, May 7; Marriott Fairfield Suites, Best Western, Rockaway and the Crowne Plaza, Paramus, all May 9; Extended Stay America, Secaucus and the Sheraton, Weehawken, both May 31; Howard Johnson's Airmont, N.Y. and the Comfort Inn, Edison, both June 4; the Marriott, Lebanon, June 8; the Hilton Garden Inn, Nanuet, N.Y., June 13; the Hotel Executive Suites, Carteret and the Fairfield Inn, Newark, both June 15; and the Comfort Suites, Newark, June 19.
In some cases, Burnett allegedly tied up employees using zip ties.
He also fired a gun during the May 31 robbery in Weehawken, court papers say.
When he was first charged in 2014, authorities accused Burnett of participating in six robberies, in which he made off with $2,850, safety deposit boxes, employee paychecks and an ATM machine.
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