Operation Mad Hatter

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Cops say this is the Mad Hatter as he robs a bank in Chatham, N.J.

FBI Agents, cops, and analysts in northern New Jersey have created a task force with one objective: to find a serial bank robber they've dubbed "The Mad Hatter."

The robber, who earned his nickname because he wears a different hat every time he strikes, has hit 18 banks since September 2006. So far, he's up at least $75,000 in stolen bank money -- and he's making it look easy. But the search for the Mad Hatter has been far from a tea party.

The M.O.

Cops say the Mad Hatter simply walks into the banks, waits in line if he has to, then approaches a teller. According to cops, the robber always displays a handwritten note demanding large bills. Usually, the note contains a threat -- either implying he has a chemical substance in the folders he carries, or saying he has a gun. Once the tellers hand over the money, he casually walks out of the bank with the stolen cash.

From knit hats to baseball caps and bucket hats, the Mad Hatter always wears a hat during his robberies. Cops say he relies on the hats for several reasons: to hide his face from surveillance cameras, and to blend in with the other bank customers.

Cops credit the bandit's success to his chameleon-like ability to blend in with his surroundings. If it's a warm day, cops say the Mad Hatter wears a baseball cap. If it's chilly, he'll don a knit hat. He looks like an average guy -- so much, in fact, that even innocent town residents are being mistaken for the bandit.

Leave No Evidence Behind

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Cops found this bag in a trash bin outside the CVS. They thought it might have been the bag the Mad Hatter received when he bought the sleep aid -- but forensic testing on the bags turned up nothing.

Cops say the Mad Hatter is careful not to leave any evidence behind in the banks. He doesn't wear gloves like some bank robbers might -- because that would stand out. Instead, cops say the robber stealthily uses his shirt sleeves to cover up his hands while entering and exiting the banks. While he's inside, he is vigilant about where he places his hands. He doesn't touch the counter, and he never hands the tellers anything. He takes his note, folder, and the money with him when he leaves. But cops say there's one main piece of evidence he can't take with him -- surveillance video.

Cops have surveillance footage from nearly all of the robberies. In most, the cameras capture clear shots of the Mad Hatter's face, despite his hat-wearing. But many of the clues they got from the footage involved a deep analysis of his movement and behavior during the robberies.

According to police, the Mad Hatter looks like he's right at home inside the banks. He's cool, calm, and collected as he waits in line, then threatens the tellers to hand over the money. At one bank, cops say he was unable to get any cash -- but he remained unrattled.

In the surveillance footage, he seems to be avoiding the cameras -- as if he knows exactly where to place himself to keep out of the cameras' view. According to cops, there might be a good reason for his comfort level. They believe the Mad Hatter may have a history working in banks. That's because during each robbery, he's used several banking terms such as, "dye packs," "strapped money," and "bait money," -- terms that the average person does not know.

Cops aren't sure if the Mad Hatter has a job. According to police, he usually strikes roughly every two weeks between Thursday and Sunday, and follows a consistent pattern in his timing. If he strikes on a weekday, it is after 5:00 p.m. If he robs a bank on the weekend, it is in the early afternoon. Cops speculate this could mean he has a regular job and is striking after he gets off work.

A Potential Lead Becomes Another Dead End

 Cops thought they might have a break when surveillance cameras caught the Mad Hatter in a CVS store just an hour before one of the robberies. The surveillance footage shows the robber, dressed in the same clothing he wore during the robbery, entering the store and milling around the aisles. Eventually, cops say the Mad Hatter made a purchase and walked calmly out of the store carrying a CVS bag.

When cops went to the CVS and tracked down the receipt, they discovered the Mad Hatter had paid cash for Unisom - a sleep aid. There was no way to track him off the purchase, but cops were ready to work the potential lead in any way they could. They knew the Mad Hatter didn't have the CVS bag with him when he robbed the bank an hour after the purchase because of the bank surveillance. Cops determined that sometime between his CVS visit and the robbery, he'd disposed of the bag.

 Investigators dug through the trash bins outside of the store, and found one bag they hoped had the Mad Hatter's fingerprints on it. But forensics turned up nothing -- it was another dead end.

What Is He Doing With All The Money?

Because of his calm demeanor during the bank robberies, police do not believe the Mad Hatter is using the money to support a drug habit -- a typical bank robber's motive. One teller described the robber as having extremely white teeth -- which would also not be indicative of a drug habit. Cops say the Mad Hatter was extremely apologetic during the first few robberies he committed, repeatedly saying he was deeply in debt and apologizing.

Police are considering the possibility that the Mad Hatter has been laid off from a job and is using the money to replace his former income. Police also speculate his apologies could indicate he has a sick family member and large medical bills. But cops say the Mad Hatter isn't someone to feel sorry for -- he's made several frightening threats throughout his bank robbing career.

In one instance, cops say he implied he had a chemical weapon -- and he's said he has a gun in several others. Police say he's growing bolder with every robbery and fear that he's getting too comfortable. They say there's no telling what the Mad Hatter might do next, or whether he's planning on making good on his threats.

AMW Tipsters ID Mad Hatter's Camouflage Cap

Cops say the hat worn by the Mad Hatter during his latest bank robbery on March 17, 2007 has likely been identified, thanks to AMW tipsters. Two separate tipsters told cops the camouflage baseball cap looks like a promotional hat given out to employees of Copart, Inc. -- a company specializing in selling salvaged automobile parts. Investigators are working with the company to find out if the Mad Hatter has ever been a Copart, Inc. employee. Cops hope this development means they're one step closer to zeroing in on the Mad Hatter.

The 13th Robbery

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On July 23, 2007, cops arrested 50-year-old James Madison, saying he is their one and only suspect in the Mad Hatter robberies.

On April 19, 2007, the Mad Hatter hit his 13th bank since September 2006, bringing the level of cops' frustration to an all-new high. According to police, the Mad Hatter's M.O. remained the same -- he walked into a Union, N.J. bank, displayed a note demanding money, got the money, and walked out. This time, cops say he wore a khaki-colored hat with an unidentified logo on it, a baggy flannel shirt, and huge baggy pants. Cops say this is a good indicator that he may be taking off layers after leaving the bank. K-9 cops tracked the Mad Hatter to a residential street about a quarter of a mile from the bank before the scent was lost -- so cops believe the Mad Hatter had a car waiting for him after the robbery.

Police thought they were on to something when they spotted a suspiciously-similar looking man near the bank, but discovered it was not their guy after questioning him. Cops are worried that the Mad Hatter is getting cocky and could escalate to violence if he's not stopped soon.

Number 14

It was deja vu for investigators who got the call on Thursday, May 3, 2007. A man wearing a hat and holding a note walked into a Commerce Bank in Morris County, N.J. demanding money. Once he had the money in hand, he simply walked out of the bank as calmly as he came. Immediately, police knew their suspect was the same man who's struck 13 other banks in the N.J. area. A man cops are working around the clock to foil -- the Mad Hatter.

Investigators are frustrated beyond belief by the bandit. They have surveillance photos and great photos of him -- but no one seems to know who he is. They're working every angle possible and processing each crime scene carefully, looking for clues. Their efforts are fueled by their anger toward the Mad Hatter.

Cops say it's important to note that the Mad Hatter is still following his routine -- striking between Thursdays and Sundays. He's generally sticking with his pattern of robbing the banks every two weeks. Cops say during the 14th robbery, the Mad Hatter showed some signs of anxiety, repeatedly demanding the teller to "hurry up." Police worry he's going to continue to escalate in his desperation and fear someone could end up getting hurt.

Cops also point out the Mad Hatter's baggy clothing in the surveillance photos from the 14th robbery. They still believe he could be shedding layers once he leaves the banks.

Number 15

He's done it again. The Mad Hatter has been one step ahead of law enforcement since he began his robbing streak in Sept. 2006 -- and it was no different on May 16, 2007 when he hit his 15th bank in Metuchen, N.J.

The Mad Hatter stuck with his usual M.O. -- except for one detail. Usually, he hits between Thursday and Sundays, but cops say the Mad Hatter changed things up this time, striking on Wednesday around 4:00 p.m. Police say the time is consistent with his other robberies, but the new weekday surprised them. Investigators say it is likely the Mad Hatter has ties to someone in the law enforcement community or banking community.

According to police, the Mad Hatter also mentioned to the bank teller that he had a sick daughter. Police aren't sure if he's telling the truth or trying to throw them off track -- but they won't rule it out as a possible clue.

Cops say the Mad Hatter's chapeau of choice in his 15th robbery was a "burnt orange" Texas Longhorn baseball cap -- the most distinct hat he's worn to date. Another interesting aspect of his wardrobe was the light blue dress shirt and tie he wore under a large blue denim shirt. Police believe the Mad Hatter disposed of his hat and outer layer, and then drove away looking like a business man driving home from work. The teller told police the Mad Hatter had "glass blue" eyes -- corroborating a previous teller's description that the serial robber had "Paul Newman" blue eyes.

Mad Hatter Foiled During 16th Robbery

By now, the Mad Hatter is used to getting in and out of banks without incident. Cops say his first 15 robberies went off without a hitch. But on May 20, 2007, the Mad Hatter got a surprise when the teller he robbed at a Woodbridge, N.J. bank gave him cash -- and a dye pack.

Cops say the dye pack went off inside the bag the Mad Hatter carried, likely rendering the money useless to the robber. Investigators say they later found the dye pack in a sewer behind the bank.

During his 16th robbery, cops say the Mad Hatter wore a white baseball cap with the word "Target" on it, brown pants, and a long sleeved blue flannel shirt.

The Mad Hatter has strayed from his usual patterns in the past two robberies. Last time, he changed things up when he struck on a Wednesday -- something cops say he's never done before. This time, cops say the Mad Hatter only went four days between robberies, whereas previously he'd been robbing a bank roughly every two weeks.

Investigators say the Mad Hatter is getting desperate and may hit again sooner than usual to make up for the money ruined by the dye pack.

Foot Pursuit After 17th Robbery

Cops knew it was only a matter of time before the Mad Hatter would strike again after a dye pack ruined the money he stole during his 16th robbery. So when police got the call from a bank in Montclair, N.J. on June 1, 2007, that the serial robbery had hit again, they were prepared to spring into action.

This time, cops say several things went wrong. The Mad Hatter is usually aware of security cameras in the banks he targets and somehow manages to avoid them. But this particular bank had cameras in a new spot -- behind the teller stations at eye level. The cameras rolled as the Mad Hatter held up his note and demanded they money. He had no idea police would have the best photos yet once he left.

Cops say the Mad Hatter fled on foot as usual from the bank. But the cameras outside captured an amazing moment -- a dye pack literally exploding in the Mad Hatter's face. Police say the Mad Hatter tossed the dye pack in a sewer, and continued fleeing.

The Mad Hatter made a dash for it and got away in June 2007, but after a seven-week summer hiatus, N.J. cops say the Mad Hatter struck again on July 22. According to officials, the Mad Hatter walked into a Bank of America inside a Pathmark on Route 22 in Union, N.J. and walked out with an undisclosed amount of cash. Police say the capped man showed a handwritten note for the 18th time, demanding large bills. After the robbery, cops say the Mad Hatter made his getaway in a Nissan Altima. Now, authorities are pulling out all the stops to track down the Mad Hatter.

Mad Hatter Suspect Is A Convicted Murderer 

For members of the Mad Hatter Task Force in N.J., July 23, 2007 was a long time coming. They've had some close calls in their hunt for the elusive serial bank robber -- but none have come as close as this. They have a suspect in custody. And police say that although the Mad Hatter has earned a reputation for being mild-mannered, apologetic, and not much of a threat, cops say the reality of the situation is much worse.

According to police, the man they have in custody, 50-year-old James Madison, served 18 years in N.J. State Prison for bludgeoning his girlfriend, 25-year-old Terry Wells to death in 1986. Then he reportedly stuffed her body in a suitcase, and dumped it in the Passaic River.

Records show that Madison, a Maplewood, N.J. resident, was released from prison in May 2005 and was sent to a halfway house for part of 2006. Police say the Mad Hatter's string of robberies began in Sept. 2006 -- a few months after Madison left the halfway house.

According to members of the task force, Madison has been charged with the July 22 robbery of a Union County, N.J. Bank of America. Not only that, cops say they believe Madison is the Mad Hatter responsible for all of the robberies.

Cops say after the July 22 bank robbery, Madison took off in a black Nissan Altima. Luckily, someone was able to catch the license plate number on the car, which police traced to a woman from Elizabeth, N.J. Police learned the woman had a boyfriend named James Madison, and they quickly set up surveillance on his residence. Around 6:30 a.m. on July 23, task force members took Madison into custody without incident.

More Charges Expected

While Madison is currently only charged with the July 22 bank robbery, task force members say they are confident Madison is the Mad Hatter, and anticipate more bank robbery charges after a search warrant on his home is executed. Madison had his first court appearance at 1:00 p.m. on July 23.

Task force members say they believe Madison's main motive in the robberies was stealing money to support his current girlfriend. Cops say Madison's girlfriend told them he always had 100 dollar bills and bought her fancy things. For her 50th birthday, cops say Madison's girlfriend says he bought her a fur coat among other luxurious items.

Madison Denies He's The Mad Hatter

In a jailhouse interview with a N.J. reporter, Madison reportedly denied his involvement in the "Mad Hatter" robberies, saying he exited the Pathmark in which the Bank of America he's accused of robbing was located with only a soda.

Madison also told the newspaper he regrets the 1986 killing of his girlfriend, and called it "the biggest mistake" he's ever made. Madison reportedly thought his girlfriend was lunging at him with a knife, so he grabbed a lamp and hit her over the head. Although he considered turning himself in, the newspaper says, he instead plotted a cover-up.

Those who know Madison say he seemed to have a stable life in the community -- he was apparently an active member of the Christian Love Baptist Church in Irvington, N.J., and worked hard at his job as a Maplewood, N.J. machinist.

As he was led to his first court appearance on July 23, Madison called his arrest, "a case of mistaken identity."

Police say Madison is still their only suspect in the Mad Hatter case -- and on July 25, 2007, a federal grand jury indicted Madison in the July 22 Bank of America robbery in Union County. Cops say they still expect more charges against Madison in the Mad Hatter robberies.

Mad Hatter Suspect On MySpace?

Police are investigating a MySpace page profiling a man who looks just like their main suspect in the Mad Hatter bank robberies: 50-year-old James Madison of Maplewood, N.J.

Posted on the page is a photo of a man calling himself "James," who says he is 50 years old and from Maplewood, N.J. Police haven't confirmed it's the same James Madison in custody on charges that he robbed a Union County, N.J. bank on July 22, and who is suspected in a string of bank robberies starting in September 2006 -- but the similarities between the two are striking.

Most interesting is the hat worn by "James" on the MySpace page; a red baseball cap that looks exactly like the cap worn by the Mad Hatter during the November 2, 2006 robbery of a Chatham, N.J. bank. Police say that cap bore a U.S. Air Force insignia, and the cap in "James'" photo appears to have the same logo on it.

If the MySpace page belongs to the same James Madison in federal custody, cops say their suspect's claims during a jailhouse interview that he doesn't rob banks and doesn't wear hats are clearly bogus.

Mad Hatter Pleads Not Guilty

On August 2, 2007 James Madison pleaded not guilty on charges that he robbed a Union County, N.J. bank on July 22. A trial date for the suspected Mad Hatter bank robber has been set for October 1. As of now, Madison faces only one bank robbery charge, but police say Madison remains their one and only suspect in the Mad Hatter robberies.

In the meantime, members of the Mad Hatter task force say their investigation on Madison is heating up as they gather evidence in an attempt to link him to other robberies.

Cops say Madison is a member of a fitness center located near two Springfield, N.J.  banks targeted by the Mad Hatter in Sept. and Oct. 2006. After one of those jobs, cops say Madison ran off in the general direction of the gym, wearing shorts and shoes -- possible workout gear.

Police say it's possible Madison ran over to the gym after the robbery, then worked out as police worked to find the Mad Hatter.

Madison Second Jail Interview

James Madison admitted he's the notorious Mad Hatter bank robber in a jail interview published by the Newark, N.J. Star-Ledger. During the interview, Madison reportedly spoke candidly about the string of 18 bank robberies in northern N.J., telling the newspaper that he had "wanted to stop," but "mitigating circumstances" caused him to keep going. Madison elaborated slightly, reportedly saying his monthly expenses were high, and denying he had a secret lifestyle motivating the robberies.

Madison also touched on the subject of his girlfriend, whose black Nissan Altima was used in the July 22 robbery of a Union County, N.J. bank -- the heist that ended in Madison's arrest. Madison reportedly expressed remorse for involving his girlfriend, saying she had given him a chance despite his nearly two-decade stint in jail for killing an ex-girlfriend, and that he'd let her down by turning once more to a life of crime.

According to the newspaper, Madison has signed papers for a plea deal, and intends to plead guilty in federal court to committing at least some of the 18 Mad Hatter robberies in question.

Mad Hatter Suspect Has Change Of Heart: Backs Out Of Plea Deal

It was supposed to be the day the Mad Hatter saga ended: August 29, 2007. Investigators say James Madison had reached a plea deal with authorities, and was expected to plead guilty to six robberies committed by the Mad Hatter, and admit responsibility for all 18 robberies in northern N.J. since September.

Instead, Mad Hatter Task Force members say Madison withdrew his plea deal at the last minute during his federal district court proceedings in Newark, N.J., saying he intends to plead not guilty to his current -- and only -- bank robbery charge. Investigators say Madison indicated that he will not accept responsibility for any of the Mad Hatter bank robberies as previously expected.

Task Force members say they believe Madison is trying to draw out the judicial process in an attempt to gain more notoriety, and possibly to test how much evidence investigators have against him.

Madison's trial is set to begin October 1, 2007.

And The Mad Hatter Is ...

Mad Hatter Task Force members are pleased to announce that the Mad Hatter saga has finally reached its conclusion.

In a federal court hearing on Sept. 11, 2007, 50-year-old James Madison pleaded guilty to six counts of bank robbery and confessed to committing 19 robberies in northern N.J. as part of a plea deal. The guilty plea came just a few weeks shy of a full year from Madison's first bank robbery on Sept. 22, 2006. In the end, the Mad Hatter's total take totaled more than $80,000.

Madison admitted to wearing a different hat during every robbery -- a quirk that earned him his Mad Hatter moniker early on in his bank heist spree. Investigators had suspected Madison of robbing 18 banks in Union, Morris, Middlesex and Essex counties, but shockingly, Madison confessed to a 19th robbery. Madison reportedly told the judge he wore a red St. Louis Cardinals baseball cap when he robbed an Elizabeth, N.J. bank on June 30 -- nearly a month before his arrest.

Deal Or No Deal?

The Mad Hatter's guilty pleas came after Madison turned his back on a previous plea deal on August 29, 2006. Investigators weren't sure if he would follow through with the second deal -- but when asked how he wished to plead at his Sept. 11 court hearing, Madison replied, "Guilty."

With the guilty pleas under their belt, prosecutors say Madison now faces between 92 and 115 months in jail. His single charge stemming from the July 22 robbery of a Union County, N.J. bank would have landed him an automatic 20 years in prison.

Madison was first arrested on July 22, 2007 after robbing a Union County, N.J. bank.

On October 16, 2007, members of the Mad Hatter Task Force assembled to congratulate and thank the man responsible for helping them nab James Madison. Union County, N.J. Prosecutor Theodore Romankov presented bank teller Steven Gomez, 21, who stealthily jotted down the Mad Hatter's license plate number with a $10,000 reward at a press conference. Prosecutor Romankov personally thanked the teller and encouraged other citizens like him to come forward to report and fight crime.