East Boston Man Sentenced for Two Attempted Armed Bank Robberies
| U.S. Attorney’s Office September 25, 2012 |
BOSTON—An East Boston man was sentenced today in federal court for two attempted armed bank robberies.
Theodore Sawtelle, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to 48 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Sawtelle pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted armed bank robbery on July 3, 2012.
On March 3, 2011, an individual later identified as William DeVincenzi, of East Boston, entered the East Boston Savings Bank in Everett and placed a device, later described as a “pipe bomb,” on a teller’s counter and demanded money. The teller complied with DeVincenzi’s demands, and he fled with $1900. The “pipe-bomb,” later determined to be inert, forced an evacuation of the bank and local area.
On March 4, 2011, DeVincenzi entered the Bank of America in Winthrop, placed a device, later described as a “pipe bomb,” on the counter and demanded money. The teller complied and DeVincenzi left with $3,843.
During surveillance of DeVincenzi on March 8, 2001, agents observed him and another individual, later identified as Theodore Sawtelle, travel to Boston on the train and purchase an accordion-style folder. As they exited the Haymarket train station DeVincenzi dropped a weighted item, described as a small pipe with wires, into the folder which was being held by Sawtelle. As they approached a nearby Bank of America, a uniformed Boston Police officer, unrelated to this investigation, appeared and DeVincenzi and Sawtelle immediately left the area.
On March 9, 2011, DeVincenzi, carrying an accordion folder, and Sawtelle took the train to the Haymarket station again, retracing their route from the previous date. As they approached the entrance to the Bank of America on Canal Street, both DeVincenzi and Sawtelle were arrested. The accordion folder DeVincenzi was holding was found to contain a “pipe bomb,” which was later rendered inert.
DeVincenzi, pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 4, 2012.
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. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit.