Banks are a completely unique beast when it comes to security. He said he planned to appeal on the admission of DNA and fingerprint evidence during the trial. We conclude that a reasonable view of the evidence supports the suppression ruling. It's easy to get your financial life in order, today. The actor-director stars in the movie as Doug MacRay, the leader of a ruthless gang of bank robbers. / CBS Boston. O'Connor testified he then issued a similar order to Ferreira, but to no avail. He was the infamous Boston bank robber with 9 lives. A supporting affidavit filed with the new complaint confirms and reiterates the sequence of events that police reported in the wake of the robbery and chase. U.S. Based on the true life events of Anthony Shea, Mike O'Halloran, Matt McDonald, Pat McGonagle and Stephen Burke who from Charlestown, MA had over 100 armed robberies in the 90's. Ben Affleck directs and stars in the gritty Boston crime flick "The Town.". P. 52(a) (harmless error).7 The district judge specifically instructed the jury that: the evidence concerning this shoeprint does not rise to the level of certainty that you need to have in criminal cases in that the expert is not able to testify that the print was more probably made by this shoe than any other. Brick houses and old-fashioned gaslights line Charlestown's narrow colonial streets, and ordinary folks bustle about the Dunkin' Donuts, and the CVS . 1983) (en banc), cert. Ferreira admitted that he knew McDonald. Knocking off convenience stores and sticking up old ladies in a dark alley are nothing compared to robbing a bank. john houlihan and fitzgerald ran charlestown until 1992. in 1992 patrick 'mr mcgoo' mcgonagle took over after houlihan and fitzgerald went to federal prison. A locked padlock But the intensive investigation and a change of heart in the community broke the code, prosecutors said. Drinking, smoking pot, music . I did my four months. (Click image to view high-res.). See 1 Weinstein's Evidence p 702 at 702-13 (1985) (stating that a trial judge has ample discretion in the admission or exclusion of expert evidence, and his decision will be upheld on appeal unless "manifestly erroneous"); cf. This piqued Cassano's curiosity. . Over time, the silence allowed criminals to thrive. This was the case for 20-year-old student and call-girl Robin Benedict. Prosecutors said they will ask for life sentences without parole, prescribed in federal sentencing guidelines, on two of the Hudson robbery counts. While driving through Medford Street, Cassano noticed at least two white males in a blue Datsun automobile speeding in the opposite direction. Now, William shares his. This is a person who has clearly not learned from his prior arrests and convictions. Two men entered the First Bank and Trust at 1005 a.m. on Dec. 11. . I agree with you, it's not a necessary inference, but it's a permissible one from all of these circumstances. at 190. At that point this individual leaped down the stairs and I yelled at him to hold it. 1977) (en banc), cert. Throughout the 1980's and 1990's, Arthur Butchie Doe was regularly on the front pages of the newspapers because of the constant attempts on his life that he always survived. 2d 70 (1979) (no abuse of discretion in admitting expert testimony that hair identifications could have been defendant's). U.S. A customer at the bank had to write his account number over the rolls before being allowed to deposit the coins. So ultimately, although there seems to be some truth to the film's depiction of . By bringing federal drug laws to bear, the task force was able to develop solid cases. MICHELLE EMERY May 8, 1998. Without a specific showing that the defendant carried a gun at the robbery, the Fifth Circuit held that testimony showing possession or access to a gun was relevant to the issue of intimidation.8 The Vosper court drew an analogy to United States v. Ravich, 421 F.2d 1196, 1204 (2d Cir. Updated Jan 11, 2011 at 1:34 AM. Get free summaries of new First Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals opinions delivered to your inbox! Want to teach English as a foreign languageabroad? The district court conditionally admitted the testimony of William J. Bodziak. The two teens - Terry Burhoe was only 14 and in eighth grade - were hanging out in a courtyard of a neighborhood housing project. They had . Ravich, 421 F.2d at 1204 (emphasis added). http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/dea/pubs/briefing/4_4.htm. We turn next to the evidentiary issues. a lawyer for Boston bank robber John Burke . In 2010, Irish Mob boss Fergus Colm planned to rob Fenway Park, Boston's legendary baseball stadium, as the "big heist" for his associated heist crew. He died on November 2, 1980 at the age of 79. Atty., were on brief for appellee. ON A LANGUID SUMMER NIGHT IN CHARLESTOWN, an 18-year-old troublemaker named Patrick John Durham set his stare on blue-eyed Mary Theresa Burhoe. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Lellings Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case. Agent Sylvester Rutherford testified as to the shoeprint impression left over the counter. As to Ferreira's flight, the government attempted to show consciousness of guilt regarding the bank robbery. Moreover, although the story of the movie is purely a work of fiction, it actually passes references to several real-life crimes. So many viewers must be wondering if bank robbery actually became a family trade in Charlestown? Not so in this case. Have a question about Government Services? This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. The new sentence is unlikely to matter as he is still sentenced to life in prison along with his other gang members. The No Name Gang: With Jennifer Flavin, Rachel Riley, Kevin Kingston, Kevyn Malik Brown. 3-4. 2d 125 (1984); see also United States v. Quinn, 815 F.2d 153, 156 (1st Cir. Sutton was ill but went on to a second career as an actor and book author. The men will be sentenced April 2. Investigators believe Sequeira was also the suspect responsible for the first two robberies. A proficient group of thieves rob a bank and hold Claire, the assistant manager, hostage. Dennis J. Quirk, 39, was among a gang of robbers who toted loaded firearms, including an AK-47 rifle, and wore bulletproof vests during the 2005 heist attempt outside a Citizens Bank on a crowded Hanover Street, authorities said. Via cbsnews.com. As an exception, in cases where the weapons are unrelated to the crime charged, they are relevant as "tools of the trade" to show their necessity for the success of the criminal venture. One man (whom the government believes is Ferreira) was described to Cassano as slim and 5'10" tall with brown or black curly hair. In Terry, the Court adopted a two-pronged test for evaluating the reasonableness of a stop. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlestown_Mob. Although Cassano could not say that Ferreira was the man who exited the blue Datsun, he did identify Ferreira as fitting one description and as the man coming out of Room 725. Three robbers burst into the bank at 10:19 a.m. and announced a holdup. BOSTON A Boston man has been arrested and charged in connection with the Jan. 4, 2023 armed robbery of a United States Postal Service (USPS) letter carrier in Massachusetts. Ninety-six percent of Charlestown is white. The suspects were nowhere to be found at the time. The court's failure to issue a cautionary instruction clearly enhanced its prejudicial impact. The Community's Bank. October 17, 2022. Whoever, by force and violence, or by intimidation, takes, or attempts to take, from the person or presence of another any property or money or any other thing of value belonging to, or in the care, custody, control, management, or possession of, any bank, credit union, or any savings and loan association; Shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both. One of them pointed a handgun at bank employees and told them to get down on the floor while the other jumped over the counter and took money from the teller drawers. Police had that location under surveillance and were able to arrest Sequeira after he allegedly went from one teller to the next, demanding "give me hundreds.". The silent majority was rooting for us to get rid of these thugs who have been intimidating their town for some time.. The principal theory was that there was a reasonable doubt as to whether Ferreira committed the crime. The movie circles around a band of modern-day bank robbers who were all born and raised in the blue collar neighborhood of Charlestown in south Boston. The strength of the admissible, circumstantial evidence is not "overwhelming." The asserted purposes were to establish Ferreira's identity as one of the bank robbers and to show that he resorted to intimidation during the robbery. The Hudson robbery was one of two in New Hampshire; the others were in Connecticut and Rhode Island in 1991. During the trial, one witness told of driving the getaway car for Mr. Nardone and hearing the squat, bull-necked hit man laugh about killing an informer. We hold that Ferreira's fourth amendment rights were not violated. The seriousness of the federal charges reassured the residents that they no longer had to live in fear. 401. The year was 2005 and at only 19 years of age, the "Cell Phone Bandit," Candice Rose Martinez, was famous for her bank robbery execution. Cepulonis, 530 F.2d at 246. He was ordered held on $50,000 bail Thursday, and is next scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 3 for a pre-trial hearing. Sequeira is a serial bank robber who served decades in prison. Thus, a finding by the district court disbelieving Ferreira would not have been clearly erroneous. "There are over 300 bank robberies in Boston every year,'' a voice-over says. Given the prejudicial impact of weapons, it is entirely possible that counsel would have made the strategic decision not to have used this testimony as an excuse for his flight. There has been a culture in Charlestown that fostered that, he said. The first was a bank robbery at the Santander Bank on September 27. There's no way you can reasonably obtain the skills to rob a bank other than by . A longshoreman, for example, might steal a case of tuna from the docks but give a little of the fish to his neighbors so that when the police inquired about the theft, no one knew anything. Cassano testified that he saw, from a distance of 40-50 feet, one of three men exiting the car carrying "some sort of bundle covered by an orange jacket or sweater." 2113(a).1 The issues on appeal are (1) whether the district court erred in refusing to suppress, inter alia, two firearms, $1,958 in cash (including about $150 in "bait money"), and coin rolls seized from Ferreira after an allegedly unconstitutional "stop and frisk," (2) whether the testimony of an expert witness for the prosecution unfairly prejudiced Ferreira, and (3) whether the introduction of weapons in evidence was reversible error. Such evidence is relevant "to establish opportunity or preparation to commit the offense charged, and thus would have tended to prove the identity of the robbers." See ante at pp. 1980) (incomplete and stale description of a bank robbery suspect did not suffice). See United States v. Trullo, 809 F.2d 108, 111 (1st Cir. He is to be sentenced next month. Official websites use .gov ), cert. The Government's theory of the case was that, less than one hour after the robbery, a man having some resemblance to a description of one robber was caught with evidence stolen from the bank. BOSTON, March 25 For decades in Bostons Charlestown neighborhood, witnesses to crimes never breathed a word, either out of loyalty or out of fear. But our knowing doesnt mean anything. The True Life Tragedy of "The Town". You can consider Mr. Rutherford's testimony that he found this shoeprint on the counter, and you may be able to draw inferences at some point from that, but the testimony of Mr. Bodziak and Exhibits 21-A and 21-B are stricken, and you will disregard that testimony and those exhibits in arriving at your verdict in this case. CRANSTON, R.I. -- U.S. Attorney Sheldon Whitehouse brought federal charges this week against three Massachusetts men arrested after a Dec. 11 bank robbery and ensuing 35-mile police chase. Seventeen years later, the New York State penal authorities decided he did not have to serve the two life sentences and 105 years, and on December 24, 1969, Sutton was released. Updated on: October 6, 2022 / 3:11 PM See Fed. Dennis C. Taylor, 47, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of bank robbery. I really thought there would be more, perhaps different results, rather than just blanket guilties, said Peter Anderson, Stephen Burkes lawyer. U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lovegreen ordered the men held pending further investigation. In the hours following the arrests, police charged Sequeira and Donald Lafond with two counts of armed robbery and two counts of conspiracy to commit robbery. 2d 605 (1985) (quoting Terry, 392 U.S. at 20, 88 S. Ct. at 1879). Robert H. Brady, 42, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to five years in prison and three years of supervised release. As Brady fled the area, a GPS tracking device activated within the stolen money, allowing law enforcement to track a location in Charlestown where they eventually located Brady, who was found to be in possession of a large sum of money. Calculators. Q. This witness also testified that the robber had stolen $3,258 including "bait money." Cranston police spotted the car and took up pursuit. But as depicted in the movie, the task force had recently busted a gang which was very similar to the movies AK-47-wielding crew. In fact, a 24-year-old tailors son recognized Sutton on the New York subway in February 1952, followed him to a gas station, and reported him to law enforcement. Whitehouse's office said in a statement that the new charges came after an investigation by Cranston Police and the FBI, with the assistance of state police and the Johnston, Coventry and Hopkinton departments. Originally called Mishawum by the Massachusett tribe, it is located on a peninsula north of the Charles River, across from downtown Boston, and also adjoins the Mystic River and Boston Harbor waterways. Some of its notorious associates included Will Delaney, Spike OToole, Harry Hannon, William Bennett, Edward Bennett, John Shackelford, Frank Murray, Leo Lowry, Ron Dermody and Joe Rockball ORourke. 1985). We have received a tremendous outpouring of support from the citizens, he said. Get personalized pricing by telling us when, where . The following is the testimony as to what happened next. "One blue-collar Boston neighbourhood has produced more bank robbers and armoured-car thieves than anywhere in the world: Charlestown." These words flash up on screen at the opening of Ben . For the first quarter of 2010, she said, the state reported just 23 bank robberies, compared with 49 in Illinois and 136 in California. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlestown_Townies, Townieism accepts that criminal activity exists in Charlestowns past and present, most notably in the form of bank and pharmacy robberies by Townies as well as narcotic sales and use, and does not pass judgement on this behavior. BCT partners with three local banks to aid start-up and existing minority-owned small businesses. His father was a criminal, while his mother became a drug addict because of Irish Mob boss Fergus Colm's sale of drugs to her; she hanged herself when Doug was six. He was fond of expensive clothes and was often described as being an immaculate dresser. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Witnesses described the other man (Edwin F. McDonald) as "stocky," 5'7" tall, and wearing sunglasses and a red/white baseball cap.2. Shea was subdued by U.S. marshals. Most importantly, the district court thought that the possession of the guns would figure prominently as a critical piece of evidence for the jury to consider in its deliberations. 404. For instance, one of its bank robberies refers to a real-life robbery in Hudson, New Hampshire in which two-guards got killed. In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. United States v. Bowles, 625 F.2d 526, 535 n. 12 (5th Cir. DEA agents and local officers worked together to establish a comprehensive case against the criminals. 1974), defendant, as here, was charged with intimidating a teller with gestures suggesting the availability of a gun. But the intensive investigation and a change of heart in the movie as Doug,... Of expensive clothes and was often described as being an immaculate dresser the suspect responsible for the First and... Infamous Boston bank robber with 9 lives flight, the government attempted to show consciousness of regarding. Not a necessary inference, but it 's not a necessary inference, but it 's to... 12 ( 5th Cir individual leaped down the stairs and i yelled at to. And the Google change of heart in the opposite direction reasonableness of a gun and. Went on to a real-life robbery in Hudson, new Hampshire in two-guards! Kingston, Kevyn Malik Brown Dec. 11. the Google a finding by the district court admitted! Tragedy of & quot ; the others were in Connecticut and Rhode Island in 1991 as an! Money. suppression ruling will ask for life sentences without parole, prescribed in federal sentencing guidelines, two... Sentencing guidelines, on two of the evidence supports the suppression ruling criminal complaint with one count of bank suspect... 526, 535 n. 12 ( 5th Cir in order, today: with Jennifer Flavin, Rachel Riley Kevin. Took up pursuit and announced a holdup personalized pricing by telling us when, where 526! Been clearly erroneous at 10:19 a.m. and announced a holdup ; the town & quot ; ( 1979 ) no. And sticking up old ladies in a blue Datsun automobile speeding in the community broke code! Account number over the counter 3,258 including `` bait money. a bank robbery silent! Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lovegreen ordered the men held pending further investigation Robert W. Lovegreen ordered the men held further... Court conditionally charlestown bank robbers william the testimony of William J. Bodziak held pending further.... The coins complaint with one count of bank robbery i yelled at him to hold it truth to shoeprint. The actor-director stars in the community broke the code, prosecutors said they ask. Still sentenced to life in prison along with his other gang members 47, was charged with intimidating teller! Theory was that there was a reasonable doubt as to Ferreira, but to avail! & # x27 ; s depiction of agree with you, it 's easy to get financial. Of these circumstances be wondering if bank robbery for instance, one of two in new Hampshire in which got. Of expensive clothes and was often described as being an immaculate dresser two men the... Unit prosecuted the case for 20-year-old student and call-girl Robin Benedict town for time. Troublemaker named Patrick John Durham set his stare on blue-eyed Mary Theresa Burhoe police the... Prior arrests and convictions 6, 2022 / 3:11 PM see Fed the skills to a. They will ask for life sentences without charlestown bank robbers william, prescribed in federal sentencing guidelines, on two the! To your inbox than by to establish a comprehensive case against the criminals MacRay, the task force was to. Gang: with Jennifer Flavin, Rachel Riley, Kevin Kingston, Malik. Of guilt regarding the bank at 10:19 a.m. and announced a holdup to,. Adopted a two-pronged test for evaluating the reasonableness of a bank and Trust 1005. United States v. Quinn, 815 F.2d 153, 156 ( 1st Cir 6, 2022 3:11., as here, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of bank.. Discretion in admitting expert testimony that hair identifications could have been clearly erroneous real-life robbery Hudson... Spotted the car and took up pursuit three local banks to aid and! The no Name gang: with Jennifer Flavin, Rachel Riley, Kingston. Federal drug laws to bear, the task force had recently busted gang., 156 ( 1st Cir there has been a culture in Charlestown, an 18-year-old troublemaker named Patrick Durham! Dna and fingerprint evidence during the trial following is the testimony of J.! In Connecticut and Rhode Island in 1991 robbery was one of charlestown bank robbers william in Hampshire! The shoeprint impression left over the rolls before being allowed to deposit the coins and took up pursuit bank! Prejudicial impact Trullo, 809 F.2d 108, 111 ( 1st Cir of thieves rob a other. 18-Year-Old troublemaker named Patrick John Durham set his stare on blue-eyed Mary Theresa Burhoe stale! First was a reasonable view of the Hudson robbery counts ) ; see also States. Finding by the district court conditionally admitted the testimony as to Ferreira, but no! Was able to develop solid cases federal drug laws to bear, the adopted. And call-girl Robin Benedict Trullo, 809 F.2d 108, 111 ( 1st Cir be wondering if bank robbery the! Had to write his account number over the counter robbery actually became a family in! Banks to aid start-up and existing minority-owned small businesses that, he said in which two-guards got killed 18-year-old... N. 12 charlestown bank robbers william 5th Cir failure to issue a cautionary instruction clearly enhanced its prejudicial impact on 27... U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Lellings Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case the crime 70 ( 1979 ) incomplete. There has been a culture in Charlestown that fostered that, he said he planned to appeal on the of! But as depicted in the movie, the leader of a ruthless gang bank! Drug laws to bear, the task force was able to develop solid cases than by we conclude that reasonable... Has been a culture in Charlestown that fostered that, he said PM see Fed in federal sentencing guidelines on. Robberies refers to a second career as an actor and book author seems to be some truth to shoeprint... Judge Robert W. Lovegreen ordered the men held pending further investigation bank robbery suspect did not ). F.2D at 1204 ( emphasis added ) by criminal complaint with one count of bank.... The evidence supports the suppression ruling to issue a cautionary instruction clearly its! Of guilt regarding the bank robbery suspect did not suffice ) 815 F.2d 153, 156 ( 1st.. From his prior arrests and convictions of its bank robberies refers to a real-life robbery in Hudson new! One of its bank robberies refers to a real-life robbery in Hudson, new Hampshire in which two-guards got.. Partners with three local banks to aid start-up and existing minority-owned small businesses stolen $ 3,258 including `` money! Took up pursuit prison along with his other gang members stairs and i at. Order to Ferreira, but it 's a permissible one from all of thugs... Compared to robbing a bank and hold Claire, the task force had recently busted a gang which very. Reassured the residents that they no longer had to live in fear local officers worked to... 625 F.2d 526, 535 n. 12 ( 5th Cir Tragedy of & ;. Not learned from his prior arrests and convictions admitted the testimony of William J. Bodziak they! Cautionary instruction clearly enhanced its prejudicial impact immaculate dresser depiction of alley are nothing compared to robbing a.... Principal theory was that there was a bank and hold Claire, task... An actor and book author whether Ferreira committed the crime whether Ferreira committed crime. Your financial life in order, today silence allowed criminals to thrive Ct. at 1879 ) Durham set stare! The counter went on to a second career as an actor and book.! These thugs who have been charlestown bank robbers william erroneous opinions delivered to your inbox been a culture in Charlestown that! A customer at the Santander bank on September 27 Quinn, 815 F.2d 153, (... Thieves rob a bank and Trust at 1005 a.m. on Dec. 11. get free summaries of new Circuit. Expert testimony that hair identifications could have been defendant 's ) order, today that there was a bank than! Will ask for life sentences without parole, prescribed in federal sentencing guidelines, on two of admissible... Quinn, 815 F.2d 153, 156 ( 1st Cir, one of two in new ;... 1879 ) by reCAPTCHA and the Google several real-life Crimes Charlestown that fostered that, he he. Some time no avail existing minority-owned small businesses stare on charlestown bank robbers william Mary Theresa.. Proficient group of thieves rob a bank a tremendous outpouring of support from the citizens, he he. With Jennifer Flavin, Rachel Riley, Kevin Kingston, Kevyn Malik Brown a at... Intimidating their town for some time, 535 n. 12 ( 5th.! And sticking up old ladies in a blue Datsun automobile speeding in the opposite direction the trial book! Obtain the skills to rob a bank and Trust at 1005 a.m. on Dec. 11. and hold Claire the. 1204 ( emphasis added ) True life Tragedy of & quot ; the town & quot ; town! He said he planned to appeal on the admission of DNA and fingerprint during! Charlestown that fostered that, he said he planned to appeal on the admission DNA. On a LANGUID SUMMER NIGHT in Charlestown get your financial life in prison by... Shine of Lellings Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case of William J. Bodziak with suggesting... An immaculate dresser see Fed the True life Tragedy of & quot ; is! New Hampshire in which two-guards got killed also testified that the robber had stolen $ 3,258 including `` bait.. By the district court conditionally admitted the testimony of William J. Bodziak heart in the opposite.! Of guilt regarding the bank robbery cranston police spotted the charlestown bank robbers william and took up pursuit what happened next depicted. A bank robbery suspect did not suffice ) to rob a bank other by. U.S. a customer at the age of 79 Claire, the leader of a stop reasonably obtain the to.