Bank Heist Guilty Plea Rocks Massachusetts Community
BOSTON – A Lowell man has pleaded guilty to pulling off a string of brazen bank robberies in Worcester, Massachusetts, leaving residents shaken and authorities seeking justice.
Joselito Santiago-Matias, 38, of Lowell, Massachusetts, copped to the robberies of three Worcester banks in April 2023. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman has scheduled sentencing for July 24, 2024.
The guilty plea stems from a federal indictment handed down in September 2023, charging Santiago-Matias with one count of bank robbery and two counts of armed bank robbery. The defendant’s crimes took place at a Santander Bank in Worcester on April 3, 2023, a Berkshire Bank in Worcester using a gun on April 12, 2023, and a Santander Bank in Worcester using a gun on April 19, 2023.
The charges carry significant penalties, with a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 for the bank robbery charge. The armed bank robbery charge carries a maximum sentence of up to 25 years, five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy, Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, and Worcester Police Department Interim Chief Paul B. Saucier made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan D. O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office will prosecute the case.
The investigation and prosecution of Santiago-Matias’ crimes demonstrate the unwavering commitment of law enforcement agencies to keeping Massachusetts communities safe from violent crime.
The guilty plea serves as a stark reminder that bank robberies have real-life consequences, affecting not only the victims but also the broader community. As the case moves forward, residents can take comfort in knowing that justice is being served.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 24, 2024.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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