By Shayna Jacobs
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN SUPREME COURT — The "Bouquet Bandit" became a bank robber because "it's where the money is" and used the cash to shop and bar hop, he admitted to prosecutors in court documents unveiled Wednesday.
Edward Pemberton, 44, an ex-con who became known as the Bouquet Bandit for bringing flowers and plants to alleged bank holdups, described how and why he went on his crime spree in documents revealed during his arraignment in Manhattan Supreme Court .
"I was broke [and] hungover. I was in financial crisis. I wanted to get ahead," Pemberton told investigators, according to the documents that were included in the indictment against him. "I [was] just recently released from prison. I couldn't sacrifice and be patient like everyone else."
After grabbing "almost two grand" from a Capital One bank on West 23rd Street on July 8, he "walked out, got in a cab and went shopping," he told investigators.
"Bought clothes, sneakers and a couple hats," he said.
During that time, he also "drank a lot" while "hanging out in bars," he added. He also allegedly used the money to pay for cabs and hotel rooms.
Pemberton described a drug-ridden history and admitted to committing past offenses to feed a cocaine addiction.
Prosecutors charged him with several counts of robbery and grand larceny for four separate robberies from 2008 to 2010. He was offered a plea deal Wednesday in which he'd get 7 to 14 years in prison if he admitted to two counts of robbery.
Pemberton became infamous for his unique modus operandi — presenting Manhattan bank tellers with a bouquet of flowers and a demand note tucked inside — during two July robberies the occurred a week apart.
"Who are the flowers for?" one teller asked him before he handed her a demand note resting in the flowers.
"Give me all hundred and fifty bills. I will shoot! No die packs," one of the notes read.
Pemberton said a newsstand worker who knew him recognized his face on the front page of a local paper and accosted him.
"Hey is this you?" the salesman asked. "It looks like you."
Pemberton denied it and fled, afraid to board the subway fearing he'd be caught.
But he was apprehended July 21. Pemberton is scheduled to reappear in court in November.
