Matthew Alden, Multiple Bank Robberies, Massachusetts 2020

BOSTON – Matthew Alden, a 27-year-old Lancaster man, was sentenced to 136 months in prison for committing three bank robberies in the Worcester federal court.

The career offender, who was previously convicted of a 2018 robbery charge, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Hillman. In addition to the prison time, Alden was also ordered to pay restitution of $14,914 and serve three years of supervised release.

The robberies occurred at the Cornerstone Bank on South Main Street in Leicester, the Avidia Savings Bank on Maple Street in Marlborough, and the Avidia Bank on Maple Avenue in Shrewsbury. During the robberies, Alden stole a total of $14,914, with the largest amount being $9,906 from the Cornerstone Bank.

The investigation revealed that Alden had planned the robberies carefully, with evidence showing that he had taken photos of himself wearing clothing worn during the robberies and had written notes on his phone, including the address of the Shrewsbury bank and reminders to throw away clothing at the Salvation Army.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, made the announcement. Assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Westford, Athol, Lunenberg, Leicester, Marlborough, Framingham, Foxborough, Shrewsbury, Millbury, Lancaster and Nashua (N.H.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucy Sun of Mendell’s Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.

The case against Alden began when he was arrested on February 26, 2020, after a search of his phone revealed evidence of the planned robberies. At the time of his arrest, Alden was holding a notepad with a list of 12 banks in Massachusetts and New Hampshire that he had not yet robbed, along with notes such as, “TD open until 7 on Friday check to see rear.”

Alden’s sentence reflects the severity of the crimes and the fact that he has prior convictions. The sentence also includes a provision for supervised release, which will allow authorities to closely monitor Alden’s activities after his release from prison.

The investigation and prosecution of Alden’s case demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement agencies to combating violent crime in Massachusetts.

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