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The term will run concurrently with one that Robert Galasso already is serving for probation violations, Superior Court Judge Patrick J. Roma said. Galasso also will be on parole for three years after that, the judge said.
Vowing to change his life, Galasso told Roma he wants the bank teller to know how sorry he is for threatening her.
Noting that she wasn’t in court, he said, “I always wanted to apologize to [her], but I didn’t want to get another charge of tampering with a witness.”
“I’m sorry for what I did, and I have definitely learned a lot,” Galasso said.
His lawyer, Seth Victor, told the judge that Galasso’s parents have left him a small inheritance.
“I will come home to some money, and I am going to use a lot of it to go into a drug program,” Galasso said.
Victor sought a shorter sentence by a year.
“I am not downplaying the seriousness of his offense,” he told Roma. “He put the bank teller in fear. But he had no weapon, it was not violent. It was a very stupid decision, but he didn’t intend her harm.”
Roma, however, noted that Galasso already has an extensive record that “doesn’t speak well of you.”
No sooner did the crystal-clear images of him holding up the Chase branch on Essex Street in Lodi appear than law enforcement officers in several jurisdictions identified Galasso — in large part, because of his complexion.
Paramus police made the first call. Lodi detectives then connected with their counterparts in Paterson, at the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office and at the FBI field office in West Paterson.
Jennifer Khalil
Galasso robbed the bank in an effort to raise bail money for his girlfriend, Jennifer Khalil, who was being held on robbery charges at the time, authorities said.
What he didn’t know is that most jail phone lines are tapped.
In less than three days, Galasso was arrested at the Paterson apartment where he’d been staying.
Originally from Hasbrouck Heights, Galasso moved around in just a few years — living in Hackensack, among other areas, with his pit bull, Sonny.
He was free on $70,000 bail after he was arrested Feb. 1, 2012 in Lyndhurst on charges of aggravated assault, hindering apprehension and weapons possession — while he was on parole.
Galasso was also wanted at the time on a warrant out of Passaic for driving while on the revoked list.
Two years ago, Galasso spent four months in the Bergen County Jail for having drugs and a gun, as well as for ducking parole. He also had a pair of active warrants out of Middlesex County, records show.
Then, last May, he walked into the Essex Street bank, gave a teller a note demanding money.
Although no weapon was shown, he motioned to his waistband, Lodi Deputy Police Chief Vincent Quatrone said at the time. Galasso then fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Galasso accepted prosecutors’ offer of six years in prison, followed by three years of parole supervision, in exchange for his May 13 guilty plea to one count of second-degree robbery.
PHOTO TOP: Robert Galasso, public defender Seth Victor
(STORY / PHOTO: Mary K. Miraglia, CLIFFVIEW PILOT Courthouse Reporter)
- Surveillance photos courtesy LODI PD
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