John Edward Stevens made the federal agency's fugitive list in 1988 after being charged in connection with other bank robberies
NEWARK -- A Brooklyn man who graced the FBI's "Most Wanted" list 28 years ago was sentenced Wednesday to 20 years in federal prison for the 2013 robbery of a Bergen County bank.
John Edward Stevens. (FBI, Bergen County Sheriff's Office)John Edward Stevens, 63, previously admitted in U.S. District Court to robbing the TD Bank in Oakland at gunpoint on April 15, 2013, according to the office of U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman.
U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi on Wednesday sentenced Stevens, who pleaded guilty to a charge of armed bank robbery, to a total of 240 months in prison.
Authorities say Stevens, who made off with several thousand dollars in cash in that robbery, also has been convicted of at least eight prior armed bank robberies in California and Ohio.
Man charged with robbing 5 North Jersey banks
Stevens was placed on the FBI's fugitive list in May 1988 after being charged in connection with the 1987 robbery of a bank in suburban Columbus, Ohio. He was captured six months later after being found holed up in a Cincinnati motel with a girlfriend.
Cecchi sentenced Stevens to three years of supervised release in addition to the prison term.
S.P. Sullivan contributed prior reporting. Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty. Find NJ.com on Facebook.