Twins plead not guilty in bank robberies

The Coram twins accused of robbing banks pleaded not guilty Friday morning in Suffolk County Court after being indicted on identical robbery charges.

Daniel and Cory Amarosa, 21, are each charged with two counts of third-degree robbery.

They are accused of working together last month to rob two banks in Centereach to fund Daniel's debt to heroin dealers, authorities said. If convicted, they face a maximum of 4 2/3 to 14 years in prison.

The brothers appeared separately before Judge Gary Weber, distinguishable only by different-colored shirts -- Daniel in green, Cory in white. Earlier, an attorney not connected with the case laughingly asked court officers, "How do you tell them apart? Do they have bracelets?"

Weber lowered their bail to $25,000 cash or $50,000 bond.

Assistant District Attorney Ray Varuolo said both brothers gave written confessions to police. He said Daniel wrote on a photo of himself robbing one bank, "That was me inside the bank." Cory wrote on a copy of the same picture that it was his brother, Varuolo said.

Daniel's attorney, Calvin Saunders of Manhattan, told Weber that his client made no threat of violence and that the debt to drug dealers raises the issue of whether he was acting of his own free will.

"The availability of addictive drugs in the community is a lot more pervasive than most people would imagine," Saunders said later.

The brothers first robbed a People's United branch in Centereach of $1,460, but it included a pack of red dye that exploded with the money, according to statements. On the way out, a witness statement said Daniel also struggled with the door, pushing it until he realized he needed to pull.

Eight days later when, authorities say, they robbed a Chase branch of $2,340, Daniel's note to the teller specified, "This is not a joke. Give me all the money in your drawer. No exploding red -- -- ."

The two brothers are scheduled to return to court July 13.