PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A local resident has been sentenced to 36 months in federal prison for a brazen bank robbery that left many shaken. John Ryder, 29, of West Warwick, was found guilty of robbing a BankRI branch office in Coventry of more than $6,000 in cash on May 2, 2016. The suspect wielded a machete during the heist, leaving witnesses in awe of his recklessness.
At the time of the robbery, Ryder had been casing the bank, spending time in and around the shopping plaza where the bank is located, and in a wooded area directly behind it. He even admitted to these actions in court, stating that he began his reconnaissance on April 29, 2016.
On May 2, 2016, Ryder entered the bank, machete in hand, and demanded cash from bank tellers. He made off with $5,937 before fleeing into the wooded area. It was there that Coventry Police Detectives and FBI agents caught up with him, with the assistance of the West Warwick Police Department, on May 13, 2016.
Ryder pleaded guilty on October 31, 2016, to bank robbery by force, violence and intimidation. In addition to his 36-month prison sentence, he was also ordered to serve 3 years supervised release upon completion of his term and pay full restitution to BankRI.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Milind M. Shah. Acting United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch, Coventry Police Chief John S. MacDonald, and Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Office of the FBI, also weighed in on the case, commending the efforts of law enforcement in bringing Ryder to justice.
Ryder’s sentence sends a clear message to would-be bank robbers: Rhode Island law enforcement will not tolerate such egregious crimes. The sentence also brings closure to the victims of the robbery, who can now rest easier knowing that the perpetrator will face the consequences of his actions.
In total, Ryder was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison for his role in the May 2, 2016, bank robbery. The amount stolen was $5,937, and Ryder was also ordered to pay full restitution to BankRI.
Key Facts
- State: Rhode Island
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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