By Shayna Jacobs
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
LOWER MANHATTAN — A career criminal dubbed the "Bouquet Bandit" for allegedly hiding his demand notes in flowers during bank robberies was arraigned on two counts of third-degree robbery Thursday.
Prosecutors said the alleged thief, Edward Pemberton, 44, admitted to six bank robberies, two of which occurred at two separate Chelsea banks in the past two weeks — once on July 8 and again on July 15.
The bouquet bandit, who reportedly did odd jobs — including making deliveries — in Chelsea's flower market — was handed a combined $2,765 from the tellers for the two Chelsea robberies, according to the criminal compliant.
Pemberton, who has six felonies under his belt, implicated himself in four previous robberies in post-arrest interviews, said Assistant District Attorney Bradley Sussman at the arraignment Thursday.
Pemberton "entered and handed a demand note requesting money" to the bank tellers in each of the July robbery attempts, Sussman said.
He will likely face charges in the future for the previous crimes dating back to 2008, the ADA added.
He is being held on $250,000 bail. His attorney, Justine Luongo, said it is too soon to comment on the case but claimed Pemberton has been "a gentleman throughout this process."
He was arrested Wednesday morning at his home in Brooklyn.
