Fall River habitual bank robber admits to several bank robberies in Fall River, Boston

BOSTON – A Fall River man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to robbing four separate banks in Massachusetts within a five-day period and attempting to rob a fifth bank.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Justice, 60-year-old William Sequeira pleaded guilty to four counts of bank robbery and one count of attempted bank robbery. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for Sept. 12, 2023. Sequeira was charged by criminal complaint in November 2022 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2022.

Between Sept. 26, 2022, and Sept. 30, 2022, Sequeira robbed four separate banks in the Fall River and Boston areas. Specifically, Sequeira robbed: a Citizens Bank branch in Fall River on Sept. 26, 2022; a Santander Bank branch in Boston on Sept. 27, 2022; a M&T Bank branch in Boston on Sept. 28, 2022; and a TD Bank branch in Boston on Sept. 30, 2022. During the Santander Bank robbery on Sept. 27, 2022, Sequeira ran up to a teller and stated, “give me a $100 bill or I’ll put a bullet in your head.” Sequeira did not present a firearm. During the M&T Bank robbery on Sept. 28, 2022, Sequeira approached a teller and stated, “I’m going to put a gun to your head if you don’t give me the $100 bills.” During the TD Bank robbery on Sept. 30, 2022, in Boston, Sequeira approached a teller and stated, “give me all the $100s in the drawer,” and “give me all the money before I blow your brains out,” before fleeing on foot with money from the teller.

On Oct. 5, 2022, law enforcement surveilling the Back Bay area in an effort to locate Sequeira, spotted him entering a Citizens Bank branch on Boylston Street in Boston. There, Sequeira approached the teller, said “Give me hundreds,” and then threatened to shoot the teller if they did not move fast enough. Sequeira was immediately apprehended.

Sequeira has previously stated that he has committed over 100 bank robberies.

The charges of bank robbery each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of attempted bank robbery provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Christopher DiMenna, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement. Assistance was provided by the Fall River Police Department and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of Levy’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.