Robert A. Ruggiero, 24, of New Boston, is headed to federal prison for 37 months after pleading guilty to robbing a Citizens Bank in Goffstown, New Hampshire, federal prosecutors confirm. The brazen daylight heist unfolded February 8, 2017, when Ruggiero strolled into the branch and passed a handwritten demand note to a teller, walking away with an undisclosed sum of U.S. currency.
Surveillance footage captured every second of the robbery—Ruggiero in a hoodie, face partially concealed, hands trembling as he passed the note. The FBI quickly released the images to local media and social platforms. Within hours, tips flooded in. Multiple witnesses ID’d Ruggiero from the stills, leading to his arrest the same day. No weapons were discharged, but the threat was clear—and the fear, real.
Ruggiero entered a guilty plea on November 9, 2017, in U.S. District Court. He offered no defense, no excuses—just silence as the judge read the facts aloud. He now faces 37 months behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors called the crime a direct assault on public safety.
“Bank robbery is a violent crime that endangers both bank employees and members of the public,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John J. Farley. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who commit bank robberies and other violent offenses so that we can improve the safety of our community.”
Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division, echoed the sentiment: “Mr. Ruggiero’s unlawful behavior brought fear and concern to bank employees. The FBI is grateful for the public’s assistance in helping us identify him, and we are fully committed to working with all of our law enforcement partners to combat violent crime and improve the safety of our communities.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Goffstown Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Dronzek handled the prosecution. No restitution amount was disclosed, but the psychological toll on staff and customers lingers long after the vault doors close.
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Key Facts
- State: New Hampshire
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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