Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Theft from Armored Car

CONCORD, NH—United States Attorney Tom Colantuono and Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Warren Bamford announced today that Phoumasay Sihanourath, of Lowell, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting the interstate transportation of stolen property. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for April 6, 2009 at the United States District Court in Concord, New Hampshire.

Sihanourath was free on bail pending the sentencing.

On August 2, 2008, Brinks Armored Car contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation concerning the theft of two bags of United States currency from one of its armored cars. An investigation by the FBI led to an employee of Brinks, Phoumasay Sihanourath, who was the driver of the truck on the day of the thefts. The money was transferred from the armored car to a vehicle at the Mall of New Hampshire. The vehicle was driven to a location in Lowell, Massachusetts, where the money was divided among the participants.

Interstate transportation of stolen money carries a statutory maximum penalty of ten years. Sihanourath is likely to face a much shorter sentence under the advisory federal sentencing guidelines.

U.S. Attorney Tom Colantuono stated: “Businesses entrusted with the care and transportation of United States currency rely on the loyalty and honesty of their employees. Our office will continue to work with law enforcement agencies to prosecute those employees who steal from their employers.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation of this case.