47-year-old man sentenced to prison in Fall River Superior Court for multiple armed robberies

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn, III has announced that a 47-year-old man pled guilty in the Fall River Superior Court and was sentenced for five armed and masked robberies in the City of New Bedford in a six-month period from April 2021 to October 2021.

Christopher Daponte of Acushnet was sentenced to serve 6 to 8 years in State Prison.

On 4/23/21, at approximately 9:20 p.m. the Walgreens on Acushnet Avenue was robbed by an armed masked man.  The victim, a 17-year-old female clerk, reported to the New Bedford police that a male wearing all black with a black face mask entered the store, pulled a black gun from his sweatshirt, pointed the gun at her, and ordered the victim to give him all of the money.  The victim complied and gave the robber $50.  The suspect then told the victim to sit on the floor and not watch where he was going and he would be back.  A customer entered the store, found the victim hysterical and called 911.

On 4/29/21, at approximately 5:25 p.m. the St. Anne’s Credit Union on Acushnet Avenue was robbed.  Bank tellers described to New Bedford Police a heavyset white male with a dark hooded sweatshirt and gaiter style face mask entered the bank and provided a note to the teller indicating that he had a gun and to provide money.  When the first teller could not locate her drawer, the male went to a second teller.  He gave the second teller a dark shopping bag and told her not to stall or place dye packs in the bag.  The second teller complied and put $2,144 into the bag.  The suspect fled with the money and note.

On 5/12/21, at approximately 3:50 p.m. the same St. Anne’s Credit Union on Acushnet Avenue was robbed.  Tellers reported to New Bedford Police that the same suspect from 4/29/21, wearing the same clothing entered the bank.  The defendant approached the victim and indicated he wanted to make a withdrawal.  When asked for identification, the suspect handed the victim a dark shopping bag and told her to put the money in the bag and not delay or he would point a gun at her.  The suspect also displayed the butt of a black handgun.  The victim complied and placed $5,174 into the bag.  The suspect fled the bank.

On 9/24/21, at approximately 3:45 p.m., the Mechanics Cooperative Bank on Kempton Street was robbed.  Tellers reported to the New Bedford Police that a heavyset white male with a gray hooded sweatshirt and black surgical mask entered the Bank, brandished a black gun, and demanded money from 3 tellers. The suspect gave one of the tellers a black shopping bag and after receiving money he then moved with the bag to a second teller.  The first two tellers complied and put a total of $1,717 into the bag.  The suspect moved to a third teller who told the suspect that she did not have any money in her drawer.  The suspect as he was leaving indicated that he would return and expected more money to be available. 

Two weeks later on 10/5/21, at approximately 3:38 p.m. the same Mechanics Bank on Kempton Street was robbed.  Tellers reported to New Bedford Police that a heavyset male wearing the same clothing from the 9/24/21 robbery entered and pointed a gun at the victim demanding money.  The victim complied and provided $2,530.  The tellers identified the male as the same suspect from the 9/24/21 robbery.

Police investigation determined that a blue Mazda MX30 SVU was being used by a male with the same clothing as the robber in the area of Mechanics Bank on both robbery dates. The vehicle was determined to be registered to the defendant’s mother.  One of the victims from Mechanics Bank identified a photograph of the defendant as the robber for both dates.  Police also were able to identify, from surveillance video, the defendant operating his own Chevy Traverse in the area of St. Anne’s Credit Union on both robbery dates. 

On 10/8/21, the police arrest the defendant at his home in Acushnet and execute a search warrant for his residence.  During the search, police located clothing that matched clothing used in the robberies, a black BB gun, black surgical masks and black shopping bags. Along with $640 located on the defendant.  Once arrested and Mirandized, the defendant admitted to all five robberies indicating to police he used the robbery money to pay bills and fund his lifestyle. 

“The defendant went on a robbery spree terrorizing innocent people who were just doing their job.  The defendant robbed a total of $10,000 some of which was recovered.  The defendant posted bail but was rearrested for Possession of Fentanyl.  He is a danger to the public and needs to be kept off the street for a lengthy period of time,” District Attorney Quinn said.