Oakdale man charged with robbing credit union while dressed in women's clothing, DA says

An Oakdale man was charged with robbing a Commack bank, while disguised in women's clothing, before making a bomb threat to police two days later and turning himself in, prosecutors said.

George Swanton, 62, was indicted Monday on a felony robbery charge that on Oct. 7, he stole a minivan from a group home and drove to a Teacher’s Federal Credit Union in Commack where, dressed in women's clothing, he handed a teller a threatening note demanding cash, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney’s office.

The teller handed Swanton $10,400 in cash before he sped away, prosecutors said, and spent the next two days at the Bay Shore Inn spending money on drugs and sex workers.

Police said Swanton called 911 on Oct. 10, telling authorities he had a bomb strapped to his chest and that he had robbed a bank. When police arrived, he again admitted the robbery and told officers the money was in his pockets. Police also found the women’s clothing used in the robbery.

Swanton appeared in court Monday, where a judge ordered him held in jail on $50,000 cash or $100,000 bond.

His attorney with the Legal Aid Society could not be reached for comment.