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LEHIGH VALLEY WEATHER

Allentown man charged with four bank robberies

An Allentown man charged with robbing banks in Upper Macungie Township, Emmaus, Allentown and Whitehall allegedly had an accomplice in two of the four robberies.

Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin said Anthony Eugene Tillman, 46, no street address given, was taken into custody Dec. 16 by Allentown police and charged with four counts of robbery, a felony of the first degree.

According to an affidavit of probable cause obtained from District Judge Rashid Santiago’s office, Tillman is charged with robbing the First Niagara Bank, 861 N. Route 100, Upper Macungie Township, 9:51 a.m. Aug. 18; BB&T Bank, 1130 Chestnut St., Emmaus, 9:49 a.m. Dec. 6; BB&T Bank, 1139 Hamilton St., Allentown, 10:16 a.m. Dec. 12 and Santander Bank, 1240 Third St., Whitehall, 9:02 a.m. Dec. 14, netting in losses to the banks totaling $37,116.

Detectives Steve Fiorillo with Allentown Police Department, Darren Simmers with Upper Macungie Township Police Department, Christian Gill with Emmaus Police Department and Matthew Reszek with Whitehall Police Department, state in the affidavit, during the robbery at First Niagara, Tillman and an accomplice were both wearing jeans and masks.

One of the men allegedly brandished a short-barrel shotgun. And, one requested the money, saying “No dye packs,” before yelling “Gimme more! Gimme more!” before leaving with $14,092.

The two men fled in a black, Jeep Cherokee, later determined to be stolen from Allentown.

According to the affidavit, Tillman, during the second robbery, allegedly brandished a black semi-automatic handgun while demanding money and yelling, “Top drawer only and no dye packs,” to bank employees, before leaving with $2,818.

He then fled in a white Ford work van with a ladder on the roof, stolen from Upper Macungie Township. The van was recovered a short distance from the scene.

During the third robbery, Tillman, with his face partially covered and keeping his right hand in his coat pocket, implying he was armed, walked to a teller and allegedly demanded she give him all her large bills.

The amount of money given to him was $2,856, the affidavit states.

In the affidavit, detectives said Tillman and an accomplice allegedly entered the Santander Bank, brandishing handguns and demanding money before leaving in a red vehicle with $17,350.

According to the affidavit, on Dec. 14, a witness called the Allentown Police Department stating he had information regarding the Dec. 12 BB&T Bank robbery.

In the affidavit, the witness stated Tillman, a friend of his, was seen with a large amount of money.

Tillman allegedly told to the witness he was involved with the BB&T Bank robbery in Allentown, the affidavit states.

According to the affidavit, the witness also provided detectives with the name of a female associate of Tillman, who knew him intimately and had been staying with him in a nearby motel.

She agreed to speak with detectives and provided them with Tillman’s clothing and other personal belongings in her possession that matched the clothing Tillman was allegedly seen wearing in video footage from the Dec. 12 BB&T Bank robbery, according to the affidavit.

The woman allegedly stated she and Tillman stayed in an Allentown apartment Dec. 11-12 but did not know where Tillman went when he left the apartment the morning of Dec. 12. She said when he returned later in the day he brought with him several new pieces of clothing which he gave to her.

According to the affidavit, she stated Tillman is unemployed and receives SSI and SSD on the first of the month and the money he receives is normally spent within a few days due to his alleged drug use.

During an interview with detectives, Tillman allegedly stated he was involved in the Dec. 12 robbery of the BB&T Bank in Allentown.

According to the affidavit, Tillman also allegedly implicated himself in the Dec. 6 BB&T Bank robbery in Emmaus, the Dec. 14 Santander Bank robbery in Whitehall and Aug. 18 First Niagara Bank robbery in Upper Macungie Township.

He allegedly stated for his involvement in the Santander Bank robbery he received $3,600 and $4,600 for his participation in the First Niagara Bank robbery.

According to Lehigh County court records, Tillman was arraigned Dec. 16 before District Judge Ronald S. Manescu.

He was unable to post $800,000 bail and was confined to Lehigh County jail.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 23.

Martin commended the Allentown, Emmaus, Upper Macungie and Whitehall police departments for their work on this case and said the investigation is ongoing.