Waterbury Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison for Role in ATM Theft
| U.S. Attorney’s Office July 28, 2011 |
David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that FELIX CRUZ, 34, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Janet C. Hall in Bridgeport to 18 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his involvement in a Waterbury bank burglary in 2009.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in the early morning hours of September 14, 2009, CRUZ, Roberto Santiago and an unidentified individual broke into the TD Bank at 1254 West Main Street in Waterbury. All three individuals wore face masks and gloves. The three ransacked the teller counter and then proceeded to attempt to break into the ATM room for about 20 minutes before departing the bank. About 25 minutes later, the three reentered the bank and continued their efforts to open the ATM. David Mazerolle then arrived at the bank to assist the others. After successfully prying the ATM loose, the individuals loaded it onto a hand truck, placed it in a waiting van, and left the bank. The following day, the Connecticut State Police found the ATM, which had been forced open and its safe removed. The bank has reported that approximately $49,000 was stolen. Subsequent investigation revealed that the bank’s telephone lines had been cut.
On February 22, 2011, CRUZ pleaded guilty to one count of bank theft. Santiago and Mazerolle also pleaded guilty and admitted to participating in this burglary and a burglary that occurred at a TD Bank in Shelton on September 6, 2009. Santiago and Mazerolle are currently serving 30-month terms of imprisonment. Each of the defendants has been ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $49,079.10.
CRUZ has been detained since his federal arrest on July 23, 2010.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Waterbury Police Department and the Connecticut State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah P. Karwan.