Fall River man indicted for allegedly robbing four separate banks in Massachusetts within a five-day period

BOSTON – A Fall River man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly 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, 59-year-old William Sequeira was indicted on four counts of bank robbery and one count of attempted bank robbery. Sequeira was previously charged by criminal complaint on Nov. 18, 2022 with one count of bank robbery and one count of attempted bank robbery.

According to the charging documents, between Sept. 26, 2022 and Sept. 30, 2022, Sequeira robbed four separate banks in the Fall River and Boston areas. Specifically, it is alleged that 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 TD Bank robbery on Sept. 30, 2022 in Boston, Sequeira allegedly 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, it is alleged that 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.

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.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement. Valuable 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 Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.