$436K Cannabis Cash Courier Heist Thugs Busted

BOSTON – In a brazen daylight heist, three men have been arrested and charged with robbing a cannabis cash courier at gunpoint in Swansea, Mass, netting a whopping $436,200 in cash.

Steven Madison, 38, of Bridgewater; Christopher White, 37, of Raynham; and Quentin McDonald, 35, of Brockton, were each charged with one count of robbery interfering with interstate commerce, commonly referred to as Hobbs Act robbery; one count of arson of property used in or affecting interstate commerce; and one count of conspiracy.

The defendants were arrested yesterday and were detained pending a hearing scheduled for May 13, 2024. According to the charging documents, in the early morning hours of Feb. 19, 2024, two men were seen on video stealing a rental van from a U-Haul Moving & Storage location in Abington, Mass.

Later in the day an armed courier who worked for a company that provides secure cash transportation services for licensed cannabis companies arrived at a bank in Swansea, Mass carrying approximately $436,200 in cash for deposit. It is alleged that the U-Haul van pulled up alongside the courier and a masked man wearing a camouflaged vest exited the van and pointed a firearm at the courier before zip-tying the courier’s hands behind his back.

The robbers then allegedly forced the courier into the back seat of his own car, pepper sprayed him and closed the door. Surveillance footage showed that the courier managed to remove one hand from the zip-tie restraints while inside his vehicle, draw his firearm and fire four rounds in the direction of the U-Haul van as it fled the scene before calling 911.

After leaving the bank, the men allegedly drove the van to a nearby location in Swansea where they met with a third man driving an SUV. It is alleged that the men then transferred the stolen cash into the getaway SUV, burned the U-Haul van and fled.

A subsequent investigation allegedly identified Madison, White and McDonald as the individuals involved in both the robbery and arson. It is alleged that during a search of Madison’s residence in Bridgewater yesterday morning, an estimated $5,000 or more in cash was located in various amounts throughout the house, as well as a $47,000 Rolex watch, a sweatshirt similar to that worn by one of the robbers, a firearm, and ammunition.

Following a search of White’s residence in Raynham, zip-ties, a black mask similar to that worn by one of the robbers, a firearm and ammunition were recovered. According to the charging documents, both Madison and McDonald have prior state convictions for masked armed robbery, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, and unlawfully possessing a firearm. White has prior state convictions for larceny and receiving stolen property.

The charge of Hobbs Act robbery provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of arson of property used in or affecting interstate commerce provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up with 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.

The charge of conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.

Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.