New Haven Man Pleads Guilty to Robbing West Haven Bank

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MALCOLM LYTELL, 65, of New Haven, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to one count of bank robbery.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 21, 2018, Lytell, wearing a hooded jacket, dark gloves and a mask that covered most of his face, entered the TD Bank located at 636 Campbell Avenue in West Haven.  He then provided a black bag and a note demanding money to bank employees, and threatened to shoot employees if they did not comply.  Bank employees filled the bag with $1,260 in cash and Lytell exited the bank.  West Haven Police apprehended Lytell shortly after the robbery.

Lytell has been detained since his arrest.

Lytell has prior federal convictions for burglary and firearm offenses related to multiple armed bank robberies in Connecticut.  In January 1994, he was sentenced to 248 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release for those offenses.  He was released from federal prison in April 2018.        

The charge of bank robbery carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.  Judge Hall scheduled sentencing for May 31, 2019.

Lytell faces additional penalties for violating the conditions of his supervised release.

This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the West Haven Police Departments.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Douglas P. Morabito and Margaret E. Maigret.