Boston Man Convicted of Multiple Bank Robberies

BOSTON—A Boston man was convicted today in U.S. District Court for the robbery of a Citizens Bank in Roslindale and the attempted robbery of a branch of the Citizens Bank in Roxbury.

SHELTON JOHNSON, 36, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to the December 30, 2009 robbery of the Citizens Bank in Roslindale and the attempted robbery of a Citizens Bank in Roxbury.

At today’s plea hearing, the prosecutor told the court that had the case proceeded to trial, the government’s evidence would have proven that on December 30, 2009, an individual, later identified as Johnson, attempted to rob the Citizens Bank located at 1628 Tremont Street in Roxbury. Later in the day, Johnson entered the Citizens Bank located on South Street in Roslindale and passed the tellers a demand note. The tellers handed Johnson U.S. currency and he fled the bank. A post-robbery audit determined that Johnson had received $2,246. Police responded to the scene and their subsequent investigation resulted in the arrest of Johnson on January 6, 2010.

Judge Gorton scheduled sentencing for October 12, 2011. Johnson faces up to 20 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine on each count and restitution in the amount of $2,246.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Ortiz’s Major Crime Unit.