Perkinsville Man Sentenced in Armed Pharmacy and Bank Robbery Case

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Michael Bickford, age 38, formerly of Perkinsville, Vermont, was sentenced on August 6, 2018 in the United States District Court in Burlington on charges stemming from the December 5, 2016 armed robbery of the River Street Pharmacy in Springfield, Vermont.  Bickford also admitted to committing the armed robberies of the Windsor County South Credit Union in Springfield, Vermont on October 18, 2016 and the Mascoma Savings Bank in Springfield, Vermont on November 10, 2016.  United States District Judge Christina Reiss sentenced Bickford to 92 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.  Bickford was also ordered to pay $230.71 in restitution to the River Street Pharmacy. 

As described in court records, at about 8:30 a.m. on December 5, 2016, Bickford entered the River Street Pharmacy located at 100 River Street in Springfield, Vermont armed with a pistol and wearing a dark-colored mask.  Bickford approached the counter, pointed the pistol at a pharmacy employee’s midsection, and demanded prescription medications.  While the first employee went to get prescription medications, Bickford pointed the pistol at a second employee.  After the first employee gave Bickford the prescription medications, Bickford fled the pharmacy.  Later that day, as law enforcement tried to confront Bickford, Bickford drove off at high speed and fled from police.  Later that day, after an armed standoff with police, law enforcement arrested Bickford and found the loaded pistol in his vehicle, along with the prescription medications and pill bottles stolen from the River Street Pharmacy.

Also as described in court records, Bickford admitted that on October 18, 2016, he robbed the Windsor County South Credit Union located at 383 River Street in Springfield, Vermont.  During this robbery, Bickford was armed with a handgun and unlawfully took about $3,324.  Bickford also stole the keys to a vehicle from a credit union employee.  Bickford further admitted that on November 10, 2016, he robbed the Mascoma Savings Bank located at 270 River Street in Springfield, Vermont.  During this robbery, Bickford was armed with a handgun and unlawfully took about $12,000.  Bickford also stole a truck from one of the bank employees.

The case was investigated by the Springfield, Vermont Police Department, the Weathersfield, Vermont Police Department, the Windsor County Sheriff’s Department, the Vermont State Police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The Windsor County State’s Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation.  “We thank our partners at the U.S. Attorney's Office for removing this individual from our streets.  Today Windsor County is a safer place,” said David J. Cahill, Windsor County State’s Attorney.

U.S. Attorney Christina Nolan added: “This case exemplifies our ongoing initiative to come together at all levels of law enforcement to combat violence in Vermont.  Bickford’s crime is among the most egregious we see in federal court.  He put our brave police officers and law abiding, hardworking Vermonters at great risk of death or serious bodily injury.  This is intolerable, and we will continue to collaborate to bring justice to violent offenders, particularly those who use firearms.” 

Bickford is represented by Jordana Levine of Marsicovetere & Levine Law Group, P.C.  The United States is represented by Assistant United States Attorney John J. Boscia.