Former Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 14 Years for Waycross Bank Robbery

Former Brooklyn man Matthew McCloskey, 34, has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for robbing a Waycross bank. McCloskey pleaded guilty to Bank Robbery, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. McCloskey’s sentence will run concurrently with his state sentence on a related kidnapping conviction, with three years of supervised release afterward. No parole is granted in the federal system.

According to court documents, on Sept. 9, 2022, McCloskey entered Ameris Bank in Waycross, handed a note to the teller demanding money, then fled with the cash. Waycross Police located the getaway vehicle and arrested McCloskey at a motel, where he struggled with officers, resulting in the kidnapping conviction.

McCloskey, who has prior bank robbery convictions in New York in 2013 and 2016, faces consequences for his actions, said U.S. Attorney Steinberg, who emphasized the impact on bank employees.

“I sincerely appreciate the commendable efforts of Waycross Police Department officers, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said Waycross Police Chief Tommy A. Cox Jr. “Our teamwork was paramount in bringing peace and closure to the victims of the crime.”

“By now, Matthew McCloskey should realize robbing a bank is not a winning proposition,” said Savannah Senior Supervisory Resident Agent Will Clarke of FBI Atlanta. “Those who choose to become involved in such a lifestyle should know that law enforcement at every level will work together tirelessly to bring them to justice.”

The investigation was conducted by Waycross Police and FBI, with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorney L. Alexander Hamner.