Hector Rivera Ayala, Bank Robbery, New Hampshire 2021

Manchester Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing Over $165,500 in a Series of Robberies

A brazen series of robberies has come to an end for Hector Rivera Ayala, a 34-year-old Manchester man, who pleaded guilty to bank robbery and Hobbs Act robberies in connection with four gas stations in New Hampshire.

According to court documents, in December 2019, Rivera Ayala robbed four gas stations and one bank in Manchester, including Rapid Refill on Second Street; Brother’s Express Gas Station on Union Street; Shell Gas Station on Eddy Road; Shell Gas Station on Hanover Street; and the Bank of New England on Elm Street.

Each robbery was captured on video surveillance, with the defendant entering the gas station and bank with his face partially obscured and carrying what appeared to be a firearm. Investigators recovered a shawl and a BB gun from the crime scene of one gas station, with the defendant's DNA found on the shawl.

The total amount stolen from the gas stations and bank was over $165,500, with more than $5,500 taken from the gas stations and over $160,000 taken from the Bank of New England.

Rivera Ayala was charged on May 14, 2021, and is set to be sentenced on August 1, 2023. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, and restitution.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Manchester Police Department led the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter prosecuting the case.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nh/pr/manchester-man-pleads-guilty-stealing-more-165500-series-robberies