Rutland Bank Robber Sentenced to 67 Months in Prison

Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced today that James Thurston, aka “Thirsty,” 34, of Rutland, Vermont was sentenced today to serve 67 months of imprisonment after his conviction for bank robbery. Chief United States District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford also sentenced Thurston to serve three years of supervised release after his incarceration. 
 
According to court records, on October 5, 2022, Rutland City Police Officers responded to an alarm activation at the TD Bank located at 89 Merchants Row in Rutland City, Vermont. Employees reported that a man wearing a surgical mask and hooded sweatshirt had walked through the main door, up to a teller window, and stated “Give me all your cash, I have a gun, give me all your cash.” The teller thereafter provided the man with $500 from the teller drawer, and the man left the bank. Officers obtained surveillance footage from the TD Bank as well as neighboring buildings, which resulted in the identification of Thurston as the bank robber.  

United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the coordinated investigatory efforts of the Rutland City Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The prosecutor was Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Ophardt. Thurston was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Mary Nerino.