West Haven Post Office & Hamden Bank Hit: 3 Plead Guilty

HARTFORD, CT – Three men are facing significant prison time after admitting their roles in a pair of brazen armed robberies that terrorized West Haven and Hamden in April 2016. MALCOLM HAYNES, also known as “Black,” 26, of New Haven, DERRICK WHITE, also known as “Fly,” 52, of Hamden, and HOWARD BOOKERT, 19, of Hamden, all pleaded guilty in Hartford federal court to charges related to the heists.

The first target was the Allingtown Post Office at 75 Farwell Avenue in West Haven. On the morning of April 21, 2016, HAYNES, WHITE, BOOKERT, and a fourth, currently unnamed, male arrived in WHITE’s vehicle. HAYNES, brandishing a .22 caliber rifle, led the charge into the post office, immediately pointing the weapon at patrons and the clerk. WHITE vaulted over the counter, forcing the postal clerk away from her station before snatching the cash drawer – containing approximately $491 – and handing it to BOOKERT. They fled the scene, leaving fear and disruption in their wake.

Later that same day, the crew turned their attention to a branch of Wells Fargo Bank located at 1647 Whitney Avenue in Hamden. The pattern repeated: HAYNES, again armed with the rifle, entered the bank with WHITE and the fourth male. HAYNES once again leveled the rifle at bank employees while WHITE helped himself to roughly $9,287 from the teller drawers. Adding to the danger, the fourth suspect displayed what appeared to be a small black semi-automatic pistol during the robbery.

Law enforcement moved swiftly. WHITE and BOOKERT were apprehended in New Haven on April 21, 2016, the very same day as the robberies. HAYNES followed on May 23, 2016. All three have been held in custody ever since, awaiting their fate. The fourth suspect remains at large and is being prosecuted in state court.

Each of the defendants pleaded guilty to serious federal charges. MALCOLM HAYNES admitted to one count of armed robbery of a postal employee and one count of armed bank robbery. DERRICK WHITE pleaded guilty to one count of armed bank robbery, while HOWARD BOOKERT confessed to one count of armed robbery of a postal employee. Each charge carries a potential sentence of up to 25 years in prison.

U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson has scheduled sentencing hearings for the trio: HAYNES on May 3, WHITE on April 19, and BOOKERT on May 4. The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the West Haven Police Department, Hamden Police Department, New Haven Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anastasia E. King is prosecuting the case.

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