Kenneth E. Denny, Armed Bank Robbery, Massachusetts 2015

BOSTON – A brazen bank robbery in Brighton left a suspect in custody yesterday. Kenneth E. Denny, 60, pleaded guilty to one count of armed bank robbery in U.S. District Court in Boston.

The crime occurred on July 24, 2015, at a Citizens Bank on Washington Street in Brighton. According to court documents, a man, dressed in a tan hat, gray wig, blue sports coat, shirt and tie, entered the bank, handing the teller a demand note and claiming to have a bomb. The man was given $4,040, but was confronted by the bank’s manager when he attempted to leave.

Police were tipped off when the man dropped the bag containing the money and stated "I am going to blow it up." The Boston Police Bomb Squad arrived and determined that the bomb was a hoax. Inside the bank, law enforcement officers found that the robber had left his wallet on the teller’s counter with a picture ID inside in the name of Kenneth E. Denny.

A few minutes later, officers located the man and confirmed that his name was Kenneth Denny. Denny was asked to produce identification and stated he must have lost his wallet. He was detained and returned to the bank for a live line-up, where bank employees identified him as the man who had robbed them earlier in the day.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit. United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner William Evans, made the announcement.

Denny faces a sentence of no greater than 25 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for Aug. 3, 2016. Denny’s guilty plea brings an end to a high-profile case that left the community shaken. The brazen robbery and subsequent hoax bomb threat raised concerns about public safety in the area.

The case highlights the importance of swift action by law enforcement and the cooperation of the community in solving crimes. The guilty plea serves as a reminder that bank robbers will be caught and brought to justice.

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