Suspect Arrested in Brooklyn Bank Robbery After Chinese Breakfast Homeless Ex-Convict: NYPD

An accused Brooklyn bank robber who was caught with stolen cash while stopping for a Chinese breakfast on the Lower East Side is a 72-year-old homeless ex-con who was released from prison over the summer, NYPD officials said on Saturday.

Joseph Jean-Louis, who has been released on parole, faces robbery, grand larceny and menacing charges in connection with the robbery of a TD Bank in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, shortly after 9 a.m. Friday, police said .

Police arrested him an hour later when a tracker hidden in the stolen cash led them to New Kim Tuong Restaurant on Chrystie St. near Hester St.

Jean-Louis, wearing a stained gray shirt and blue pants, had just eaten an order of shrimp fried rice, cops said.

Jean-Louis is accused of walking into the bank on Fourth Avenue near 39th St., telling a teller he had a gun and demanding money, police said.

He left the bank with about $500, they said. No weapon was ever displayed.

Police said they found the stolen cash on Jean-Louis when he was taken into custody a block from the restaurant.

“You got the wrong guy, man! This is my money,” Jean-Louis said as he was led away in handcuffs, according to police. “That’s my social security!”

The ex-con added: “I got a $50 million loan from the bank!”

Police also charged Jean-Louis with criminal possession of stolen property because they said he had the stolen cash on him, which was still wrapped in the bank's money belt.

Jean-Louis lived in a men's shelter on E. 30th St. near First Ave. in Kips Bay.

According to court records, he was released from Elmira Correctional Facility on July 19 after being sentenced to one year in prison for attempted robbery.

He is on probation until February.

His first prison sentence was in 1999, when he was sentenced to five years in prison for attempted robbery. He was released in 2004.

His arraignment in Brooklyn Criminal Court on bank robbery charges was pending Saturday.

Originally published: October 5, 2024 at 11:43 am