North Carolina Man Admits to Robbery of Three Local Fast Food Restaurants

A North Carolina man has admitted to the robbery of three local fast food establishiments and seven other quick service restaurants and a bank in Monmouth and Middlesex counties.

Timothy Lester Johnson, aka “Amiri Allah,” of Kingston N.C., pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Joel A. Pisano in Trenton federal court, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Johnson is accused of robbing the Dunkin Donuts and McDonald's in Tinton Falls and the Eatontown Burger King.

The robberies occurred between Jan. 29 and Feb. 12, culminating in the robbery of a PNC Bank at 4620 Route 9 South in Howell.

Johnson plead guilty to one count of bank robbery and two counts of commercial robbery for crimes he committed on Feb. 11 and 12. He also admitted to carrying a firearm during each robbery.

The following establishments were robbed by Johnson:

• Burger King, 139 Highway 35, Eatontown, Feb. 3.
• McDonalds, 588 Shrewsbury Ave, Tinton Falls, Feb. 8.
• Dunkin' Donuts, 4060 Asbury Ave., Tinton Falls, Feb. 11.
• Quick Check, 3607 Highway 33, Neptune, Feb. 4.
• Dunkin' Donuts, 587 Fayette St., Perth Amboy, Feb. 6.
• Dunkin' Donuts, 2112 Highway 35 South, Ocean Township, Feb. 11,
• PNC Bank, 4620 Route 9 South, Howell, Feb. 12.
• Dunkin' Donuts, 231 Third Ave., Long Branch on Jan. 29.

Johnson was captured near a motor inn in Neptune after police reviewed surveillance footage and saw him placing bags in the trunk of a car and departing the motel on Feb. 23. Johnson was detained after police stopped his vehicle, the release states.

Each of the three counts Johnson is facing carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 7.