A Kings Park man pleaded guilty to robbing two Flagstar Bank branches in Suffolk County days apart and possessing cocaine when he was arrested after the second robbery, prosecutors said.
Brian Blackford, 51, pleaded guilty Thursday, Aug. 27, to two counts of third-degree robbery and one count of fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney.
The first robbery happened at about 3:43 p.m. Dec. 8, 2025, at a Flagstar Bank in West Babylon. Prosecutors said Blackford approached a teller and handed her a note. The teller gave him $1,400 before he left the bank.
Two days later, at about 12:45 p.m. Dec. 10, Blackford entered a Flagstar Bank in Deer Park and handed a note to a teller, prosecutors said. He also pointed toward his waist, implying that he had a weapon.
The teller gave Blackford $3,930 in cash and he left the bank, according to the district attorney’s office.
Suffolk County detectives located Blackford later that day in Copiague and arrested him. Prosecutors said he was found with 2.35 grams of powder cocaine, $2,700 in stolen cash and a note that read, “give me $10,000 cash no funny business.”
“This defendant walked into two banks, made a threat and walked out with stolen cash,” Tierney said. “Bank employees should never have to fear for their lives while simply doing their jobs.”
Each of the charges Blackford pleaded guilty to is a Class D felony.
Blackford is scheduled to return to court Oct. 1 and is expected to be sentenced to five and a half to 11 years in prison.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Hector Laserna of the Narcotics Bureau. The investigation was conducted by Suffolk County Police Major Case Unit Detective Joseph Bianco.
Photo: SCDA
