Manchester Bank Bandit Gets 54 Months for Armed Heist

CONCORD, N.H. – Ricardo Mejia, a 25-year-old resident of Manchester, was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison for robbing a Manchester bank branch last year, announced United States Attorney Emily Gray Rice.

Mejia pleaded guilty to one count of the federal crime of Bank Robbery in connection with the incident. He acknowledged that on September 4, 2015, he entered a branch of Northway Bank at 29 Cilley Road in Manchester and whispered to a bank teller, "Give me all 100s, 50s, 20s. I have a gun."

While Mejia did not brandish a firearm during the incident, he further admitted that he cautioned the teller, "Don’t give me any tainted money or I’ll come back and shoot you." Mejia also acknowledged that, after the teller handed him a substantial amount of cash from her teller drawer, he fled.

The case was investigated by the Manchester Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Morse.

United States Chief District Judge Joseph N. LaPlante imposed the 54-month sentence, which includes three years of supervised release upon completion of Mejia’s prison term.

Mejia’s sentence serves as a reminder of the consequences of committing violent crimes in our communities. The Manchester Police Department and the FBI worked tirelessly to bring Mejia to justice, and we are grateful for their efforts.

Ricardo Mejia’s actions put innocent lives at risk, and he will now face the consequences of his actions. We hope this sentence brings closure to the victim and the community.