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Convicted Bank Robber Tied to Past Crimes Charged in Westerly Heist
A convicted bank robber with a history of similar crimes has been charged with robbing a Washington Trust Company branch in Westerly, R.I. Lawrence M. Sullivan, 38, allegedly approached a teller at the bank, located inside a supermarket, and demanded cash on September 15, 2014. According to the teller, Sullivan threatened to ‘start shooting’ if his demands were not met. No weapon was shown.
Sullivan was arrested the next day by Groton, Ct., police after he was discovered hiding inside a storage closet inside a local motel. He was returned to Rhode Island, where he has been held in state custody since his arrest. At the time of his arrest, Sullivan was serving a term of 3 years federal supervised release, having recently completed serving a 63-month federal prison sentence imposed in February 2010 for robbing two banks in Connecticut and one in Maine in 2008 and 2009.
According to court records, Sullivan pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in New Haven in December 2009 to two counts of bank robbery. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra R. Hebert. The FBI and the Groton, Ct., Police Department assisted the Westerly Police Department in the investigation of this matter.
Lawrence Sullivan, a convicted bank robber from Connecticut, has been charged in connection with the Westerly bank robbery.
U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Lincoln D. Almond ordered Sullivan detained today, citing his history of bank robberies and his status as a convicted felon. Sullivan’s next court appearance has not been scheduled.
The Westerly Police Department, along with the FBI and the Groton, Ct., Police Department, is continuing to investigate the Westerly bank robbery.
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Key Facts
- State: Rhode Island
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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