Matthew Martin Pleads Guilty to 8 Violent Robberies Across Two States

Matthew T. Martin, 32, of Springfield, Vermont, stood in federal court today in Burlington and admitted to terrorizing communities across Vermont and New Hampshire with a relentless crime spree of armed robberies throughout 2015. Wearing orange and shackled at the waist, Martin pled guilty to eight counts of robbery, including banks, credit unions, a pharmacy, and a gas station — each strike marked by deception, threats, and weapons designed to look far deadlier than they were.

The spree began on January 28, 2015, with the robbery of the Windsor County South Credit Union in Springfield, Vermont. Martin never flashed a real firearm but told bank tellers he had one, creating enough fear to walk away with cash. He struck again on February 7, 2015, this time at a Shell gas station in Ludlow, Vermont, where he pointed what appeared to be a real gun at the clerk before fleeing. Days later, on February 17, he robbed the Citizens Bank in Springfield — again threatening a teller with a concealed weapon that was never seen.

After a brief pause, Martin returned with a new level of violence in November and December 2015. On November 11, he robbed the Greater Falls Pharmacy in Bellows Falls, Vermont, claiming he was armed — though no weapon was shown. Then, crossing into full-blown armed assault, Martin robbed the People’s United Bank in Brattleboro, Vermont, on December 14, 2015. This time, he didn’t just threaten — he brought a BB gun disguised as a real firearm and carried a device made to look like a bomb. He also wore a woman’s disguise, altering his appearance to evade capture.

Just one week later, on December 21, 2015, Martin hit the Heritage Family Credit Union in Ludlow, Vermont, again wielding the same BB gun. His pattern was clear: enter disguised, threaten lethal force, grab cash, vanish. But his luck ran out after federal authorities labeled him a “Fugitive of the Week.” The U.S. Marshals Service tracked him down, and by late December 2015, Martin surrendered with multiple warrants pending.

His crimes weren’t confined to Vermont. On December 1, 2015, Martin robbed the Mascoma Savings Bank in Charlestown, New Hampshire, flashing the same BB gun. Three days later, on December 4, he struck again at TD Bank North in Loudon, New Hampshire — once more using the fake firearm to intimidate employees. In total, eight robberies, spanning two states, all fueled by fear and deception.

Under a plea agreement filed in federal court and pending judicial approval, Martin faces 180 months — 15 years — in federal prison. Judge William K. Sessions III will deliver the final sentence on February 1, 2017, in Brattleboro. Parole has been abolished in the federal system, meaning Martin will serve nearly all of his term. The investigation was led by a joint task force of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies determined to end his violent run.

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