A Portland man has been sentenced to 16½ years in prison for his role in a pair of armed bank robberies in 2015.
Neil West, 65, was found guilty of armed bank robbery and conspiracy to commit bank robbery following a jury trial in July 2016. West was also ordered to serve a consecutive two-year sentence for violating conditions of supervised release.
According to court records, on September 4, 2015, co-conspirators Joseph Richards and Crystal Dufault robbed the University Credit Union in Portland, with West serving as the getaway driver. Four days later, Richards robbed the TD Bank in Lewiston, again with West as the driver.
Following a high-speed chase, West and Richards were arrested in Saco. West’s lengthy criminal history and reckless driving were cited as aggravating factors in the sentence.
U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II praised the cooperation among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies in solving the case.
West’s co-conspirators, Richards and Dufault, were previously sentenced to 15 years and three years in prison, respectively. The investigation was a joint effort between multiple law enforcement agencies in Maine and New Hampshire.
Contact: Michael J. Conley, Assistant United States Attorney, (207) 780-3257.
Related Federal Cases
- Neil West Sr, Armed Bank Robbery, Maine 2015 · New Hampshire
- Maine Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Bank Robbery in Augusta · Washington
- Timothy T. Myers, Bank Robbery, ME 2018 · Rhode Island
- Manchester Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Bank Heist · Rhode Island
- South Portland Man Sentenced to 13 Years for Armed Robbery · New Hampshire
Key Facts
- State: Maine
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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