Guilty Plea in Bank Robbery and Attempted Robbery

Craig Shacklock, 52, of Providence, pleaded guilty today to robbing a teller at a Citizens Bank branch in Providence in January and attempting a robbery at another Providence bank earlier the same day.

Acting United States Attorney Luis M. Matos announced the guilty plea, which Shacklock entered before Chief U.S. District Court Judge Mary M. Lisi in U.S. District Court, Providence.

At the plea hearing Assistant U.S. Attorney Zechariah Chafee said the government could prove that, at about 11:30 AM on January 28, Shacklock entered the Bank of America at 111 Westminster Street, wearing a scarf over his mouth. He partially removed the scarf when a security guard told him to, approached a teller, and handed her a note demanding money. Instead, the teller locked her cash drawer, and Shacklock fled the bank without any money.

About an hour later, Shacklock entered the Citizens Bank at 870 Westminster Street and handed a teller a note demanding money. The teller gave him approximately $8,000 in cash, and he fled the bank. A short time later, a Providence Police officer patrolling at Westminster and Cranston Streets recognized Shacklock on the basis of a description that had been broadcast and arrested him. Shacklock had about $7,200 in cash on him, including some bills with markings that had been made at the bank.

Shacklock is detained pending sentencing, which Judge Lisi scheduled for November 6. The maximum penalty is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Providence Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the robbery and the attempted robbery.